WATER QUALITY THE COLUMBIA BASIN · waterqualitystudies inthecolumbiariverbasin...

WATER QUALITY STUDIES

IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

Marine Biological Laboratory

LIBRA. Il"5r

SEP 2 41958

WOODS HOLE, MASS.

^

SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC REPORT-FISHERIES No. 239

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The series embodies results of investigations, usually of

restricted scope, intended to aid or direct management or utiliza-

tion practices and as guides for administrative or legislativeaction. It is issued in limited quantities for official use ofFederal, State or cooperating agencies and in processed form foreconomy and to avoid delay in publication.

United States DepartsMnt of the Interior, Fred A. Seaton, SecretaryFish and Wildlife Seirvlce, Amle J. Suomela, Coanlssloner

WATER QUALITY STUDIBS IH THE

COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

by

Robert 0. Sylvester, Project SupervisorAssociate Professor of Sanitary Engineering

University of Washington

This work was financed by the Bureau ofCoBmercled Fisheries under Contract No.ll^-19-008-2419, with funds made avail-able under the Act of July 1, 1954 (68Stat. 376), conmonly known as the Sal-tonstall-Kezmedy Act.

Special Scientific Report—Fisheries No. 239

Washington, D. C.

May 1958

WATER QUALITY STUDIES IN TEE COLUMBIA RIVER BASIN

Robert 0. Sylvester

****

CONTENTS

Page

Abstract • 1Introduction 1

Causes of vater quality change 2

ColuBbia River Basin • • • ^Procedure 7Collected data 10

Water quality effects on fishes 11Field sampling and euiedytical procedures - sampling stations . Ik

Sampling stations - their selection and location l6Water quality changes with storage of samples 19Reliability of water quality data 31Present status of vater quality - Columbia River Basin .... 33Monthly changes In river temperature kl

Noimal river vater temperature changes vith distance ^2Diurnal vater temperature variations 3Êffect of existing reservoirs on dovnstream vater

temperatures 60Water quality conparlsons, 1910-11 to 1952-56 6?Yakima River, irrigation and pollutional effects 87

DoBiestic sevage and industrial vaste discharge 90Prediction of future vater quality 97Acknovledgments 100Bibliography 101

Appendix 104-131*

A. Columbia River Basin, reservoii>s, present andproposed lO^f

B. Summary of present vater quality lOdC Monthly averages of present vater quality 115

C0LUM8U mVCR BASMMMA. <M,eeo •« H FIG. 1

RBsearcb and lavestlgation on theQuality of Water of the Columbia Blver and Effects

on the Tlsberles Resources

Abstract

A brief study bas been made of thewater quality in the Columbia River Basin.Water quality constituents evaluated verethose that might relate to the productivityof the River Basin fishery. The naturalvater quality of the Basin has experienceda significant change In the past k^ yeaz^through the construction of multipurposeand single -purpose dams. After these damswere built, vater was available for agri-culture, industrial, aztd domestic consump-tion. It is the spent vaters from theseconsumptive uses, more than the dams them-selves, that have produced this vater-quality change. Troi the standpoint of thefishery, the seemingly most Important com-ponent of vater quality at this time is thatof temperature. Water temperatures in thecentral Columbia and in the lover Snake andYakima Rivers are quite high during thesuoser. Dissolved constituents have shovna marked rise during the pcut k^ years buthave not risen to the extent that the fish-ery is endangered according to data pre-sently available. Dissolved oxygen valuesare high throughout the Basin vith theexception of the lover Willamette River.

This report should be considered as abeginning on a stvidy of the Columbia Basinvater quality and not as a report ccmpletein itself. Its principal deficiency Is alack of data on vater-tomperature changescaused by vater Impoundment under varyingconditions of Impoundment. Ho attempt hasbeen made to evaluate the various vaterconstituents found in their relation tottquatic life. A study of these constituents,present and predicted future, and their re-lation to etquatic life seoss necessary sinceavailable data on the subject are meagerand conflicting.

IHTROnJCTION

Streams of the Pacific Northvest eure

of particular value to the economy of theregion because of their extensive use byanadromous fishes, beocuise of their pover

potential, because some of them are favor-ably located for Irrigation, because theyaffozd recreation for hundreds of thouscuids

of people, and because saae can be madesuitable for vater-bome commerce. Manythink that these varied vater uses are in-

compatible; others think that their favoreduse should have priority because of its

economic value or because it vas therefirst; others feel that multipurpose use ofthe streams is both Inevitable and desir-able and that vith Intelligent study thiscan be aceompLLished vith a minimum of damageto other uses. To develop this multipurposevater use, dams and their companion reser-voirs must be built and filled.

In the ecurly days of the region'sdevelopment, dams vere constructed for aparticular pvirpose vithout any regard totheir effect on other water uses. If thePacific Northwest's vater resources are tobe developed for the good of all, thesemultipurpose vater uses and their relationsto one another must be properly evaluatedon a basis of fact and not of conjecture.These relations must be understood andagreed upon by all those concerned in multi-purpose vater use.

This study has concerned itself vithonly one of the relations involved in multi-purpose vater use; that is the changes invater quality that have taken place, andthe changes that may be expected to takeplace in the future as a result of multi-purpose-dam construction. The correlationstudy to follov these vater-quality datavill be an evaluation and study of theireffects on fish life.

The study reported on herein vassponsored by the Uhited States Fish andWildlife Service and the Chelan CoimtyPublic Utility District vith the Universityof Washington, through its School of Fish-eries, as contractor. Data on vater qualityvere collected and analyzed throxigh thesanitary-engineering laboratory at the Uni>versity of Washington. Additional supple-nenteil data vere obtained from the U. S.

Geological Survey and other government and

private agencies whose contribution areacknowledged at the end of this report.

Causes of Water-Quality Change

The natural water quality in a riverIs subject to change frcm four man-madecauses. They are:

1. Impoundnent of water In reser-voirs behind dams.

2. Return flows froa Irrigation.

3* Introduction of domestic sewageand Industrial wastes.

k. Soil erosion from fanning, log-ging, or construction activities.

3' Spray chemicals us«d in forestryand agrlcultvire

.

Bipoundment of water

The effect of water Impoundment onwater quality depends upon the tliae ofImpoundment, water depth, air temperatures,character of reservoir bottom, whetherhighly organic or inorganic, the physicalemd chemical quality of water entering thereservoir, wind action to provide circula-tory currents, and the point and depth ofwater withdrawal from the resejrvolr. Ad-verse water-quality factors in regard tofish life that may arise from water impound-ment are: high water temperature, low dis-solved oxygen, high or low hydrogen-ion(pH) concentration, excessive carbon diox-ide, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide fromorganic decomposition, siltation, andaccumulation of trace elements that may betoxic to fish or their food supply, suchas copper, leaid, selenium, €uid zinc. Favor-able water-quality effects that may arisefrcm Impoundment are: a lowering of thedownstream water temperature in the waimseason and a rsd.sing in the winter;Increase In downstream flow, during thenoimal low period, that will more effec-tively dilute pollutants. Release ofImpoiinded water will affect the streamquality for some distance below the dam,depending upon the water turbulence, airtemperatures, and the depth of water with-drawal from behind the dam.

Return flows fron irrigation

In the irrigation of land, it Isnecessary that the soil be well-drained sothat the plant roots do not become watersick and so that salts do not accumulate atthe soil surface. A favorable salt balanceis attained when the drainage water has ahigher salt content than the input water(1). Most irrigation projects are providedwith drains or waste-ways which control thedirection of ground water movement in theroot zone by returning excess ground andirrigation waters to a receiving stream.

The amount of water required for irri-gation varies from less than two to morethan ten acre -feet of water applied peracre per yesir (2). Of this applied water,from 20 to 60 percent may find its way backto the stream as return flow.

These return flow waters are moremineralized and have different physicalproperties frcm the input waters. Theirreturn to a stream will produce markedwater quality changes if the quantity ofreturn flow in relation to stream flow is

significant.

Dcmestic sewage and industrial wastes

The quantity of wastes discharged toInland waters is continually incresising.

Their content of polluting material is undersurveillance by, and is in the process ofbeing controlled by, water pollution controlagencies. Uncontrolled discharge of thesewaste waters has, in many instances, causedseriovis imptd-rmant in water quality to theextent that fish life could not exist. It

is to be expected that these waste waterswill continue to cause less and less delete-rious effects as waste treatment and othercontrol processes become more common.

Soil erosion

Poor land management, in the foim ofovergrazing or improper ciiltivation, togetherwith logging, mining, or construction activ-ities that do not control soil erosion, fre-quently imparts so much silt to a streamthat all other fonns of water-quality impair-ment become minor in comparison.

d

Colxmbla River Basin

The principal river basin in the

Pacific Hortbwest is the Columbia River

Basin. This river system llkevlse has the

greatest multipurpose water uses existing

and proposed. It has supported very leorge

runs of anadromous fishes for whose con-

tinuation, hioge sums of money have been

spent. This water q\iallty study has con-

fined itself within the Columbia River

Basin. Figure 1 shows the drainage bound-

aries of the Basin. There are seme 259,000

square miles in the drainage basin, of

îch 39,700 are In Canada. It includes

the majority of land area in the States of

Washington, Idaho and Oregon, the western

part of Montana, and smaller areas in

Nevada, Wyoming and Utah, cooprlsing about

seven percent of the nation's area.

The Colimbla River has its headwaters

in Coliaibia Lake, British Columbia, about

70 miles north of the International border

at an elevation of 2,650 feet. After flow-

ing U65 miles through Canada in a circui-

tious manner, the river enters the United

States near the northeast comer of Wash-

ington. It flows through Washington in a

series of big bends and beccxies the border

between Washington and Oregon as it flows

westward to the Pacific Ocean. Between

headwaters and the ocean, the river is some

1,200 miles long. Its ann\iftl average dis-

charge is around 160,000,000 acre -feet of

water (or 220,000 cubic feet per second)

that flows into the Pacific Ocean. The

headwaters of the Columbia and its princi-

pal tributaries are in the mountains where

precipitation is fairly high. Mo\mtaln

snow packs produce ground storage pliis

seasonal peak flows in late spring.

The central part of the Columbia, like

its principal tributary, the Snake, lies in

an arid region where Irrigation is necessary

for diversified faming. About l^, 500,000

acres are now (1956) under iirigation, two-

thirds of which are in Southern Idaho.

Ultimate develop»ent calls for a total of

about 7,500,000 acres to be irrigated (3)-

(See table 1 and figs. 3 and U.)

Because of its rapid fall from head-

waters to the ocean, the Columbia and its

tributaries offer many sites for hydroelec-

tric -pcrwer developnent. Despite the fact

that there are now nearly 200 hydroelectric

-

power developoents in the Basin, only about

Tkbl* 1. — IrrlCfttloa, cxlstiac «ad propoa«4,'tributary aboT* statad location

u

Loeation

FIG. 4

5

Zio

kO peix:ent of the potential of over10,000,000 kw. has been developed (3)-

The U. S. Bureau of Reclamation In

its report to the 8lst Congress, "The

Columbia River", 19^*7 (3)^ proposed con-struction of 238 projects, large and small,

for irrigation, power, and flood control.

The U. S. Corps of Engineers, North PacificDivision, in its "Review Report on ColumbiaRiver and Tributaries" ("308 Report"),19^^, shows an viltimate developnent of the

Columbia River Basin that will provide atotal of 125,000,000 acre-feet of storageon the river eind its tributaries. Thisstorage would make possible almost a com-plete regulation of the river system. Toaccomplish this, they propose the earlyconstruction of 27 dams with an additional131 dams, large and small, in the ultimatedevelopnent.

Stream flow

Average monthly stream flows and the

yearly mean for the period of record toI9I46 are plotted on figure 5« Tabulateddata of water quality have the stream flowrecorded as of the time of sampling.

The principal tributaries of theColumbia River, their location, and theirmean wnmiAi flow are: (through 19^)

RlT«r

t

n

CO

• n

SI 1"

•o

d

llJ

ui

ii.

o1/1

zo3 o

These air temperatures were tabulated bymonthly and yearly meauis for l8 selected

stations in Washington, one in Idaho and

nine in Oregon.

WATER QUALITY EFFECTS ON FISHES

Water quality affects anadromousfishes in different ways. It may, if ad-verse, discourage the adults in theirupstream migration; kill them by toxicityor disease before they reach the spawninggrounds; cause them to not spawn when atthe spawning beds; destroy their eggs byproviding an environment unfavorable forhatching; or it may cause the newly hatchedfish to die through destruction of theyoung fish itself or its food supply. Asearch of the literature for specific waterquality constituents and their effect onanadromous fishes was not very fruitful.Different species of fish and the same fishat different ages have varying tolerancesto water constituents. The effect of aparticular constituent also frequentlydepends upon the variation in concentrationof other constituents.

A concise statement on the vagrantnature of the research and of the availabledata on toxicity to fishes is given in the

California "Water Quality Criteria" (12).

It reads as follows: "Not only are thereferences dealing with fish innumerable;they are also individualistic in theirapproaches to the problem. The conditionsunder which the numerous investigatorsconducted their experiment varied widelyand were seldom standardized. Hence, the

results of several investigators of thesame pollutant may not compare closely.This wise discrepancy arises from varia-tions in the species of fish or otherorganism used, its prior handling, the tem-perature, the dissolved -oxygen content,synergistic and antagonistic substances,the hardness and other mineral content ofthe water, and the time of exposure."

There is a dearth of specific infor-mation on water quality and fish life and aneed for more study on this subject. In

deteimining what water tests should be madein this survey, it was decided to makethose where there were reports of the con-stituent being of possible hann to fishlife and to make other tests whose valueswould be helpful in general water quality

evaluation. (See succeeding section fortests actually made and the analyticalprocedure used.

)

Ellis (7) describes the followingwaters , in the absence of toxic pollutants

,

as being favorable to a good mixed fishfauna:

a. Dissolved oxygen, not less than

5 p. p.m.

b. pH, approximately 6.7 to 8.6,with an extreme range of 6.3 to9.0.

c. Specific conductance at 25° C,150 to 500 mho X 10-0, with amaximum of 1,000 to 20,000 mho x10-6 penaissible for streams in

western alkaline areas.

d. Free carbon dioxide, not over

3 cc. per liter.

e. Anmonla, not over I.5 p. p.m.

f. Siispended solids, such that themillionth intensity level forlight penetration will not beless than 5 meters.

The IntemationsLL Pacific SalmonFisheries Commission in their upper FraserRiver studies (8), state the following in

regard to water temperatures: "Sockeyesalmon in the Fraser system have a decreas-ing temperature tolerance as they approachtheir spawning grounds. On the spawningbeds, large numbers of sockeye will diewithout spawning if mean water temperatureexceeds 63" F. Farther down the migrationroute, at Hells Gate, temperatures of 70° F.

have caused no apparent ill effects. . . .

CoLumnaris disease is known to beccana extreme-

ly virulent at temperatures in excess of70° F." Their studies indicate that sock-eye can be expected to die when mean watertemperatures exceed 68° F. for periods ofseveral days.

The Water Pollution Research Board,London, in their 195'4- report (9), had the

following observations to make on effectsof pollution on fish:

a. Ammonia undissociated is moretoxic than is the ammonium ion;

toxicity of ammonia is effected

11

pH, carbon dioxide and dissolvedoxygen concentrations. Toxicityof ammonia (undissoclated) in-

creases as oxygen concentrationdecreases. Carbon dioxide in lowconcentrations (up to 30 p. p.m.)reduces the toxicity of ammoniaby lowering the pH value and thusincreasing the ionization ofcoBnonia.

b. Trout may be killed in the pre-sence of 15 to 60 p. p.m. of copif the concentration of dissolvedoxygen is lees than about 30 per-cent of the saturation value.

c. An anionic detergent equivalentto 1.26 p. p.m. of sodium laurylsulphate, produced a 50-percentmortality to rainbow trout afterabout 12 weeks exposure. Whenthe concentration was k p. p.m.,the median period of survival ofthe trout was about 7 days.

Doudoroff and Katz made a criticalreview of the literature on the toxicity ofindustrial wastes and their components tofish (10, 11). A summary of this reviewfollows

:

a. gH - under otherwise favorableconditions, pH values between 5-0and 9-0 are not lethal for mostfully developed fresh-waterfishes

.

b. Strong alkalies , such NaOH,Ca(0H)2j and KOH, 8u:« not lethalto fully developed fish In freshwater when their concentrationdoes not raise the pH value above9.0.

c. Ammonia , ammonium hydroxide , andammonium salts can be very toxicto fish. Nonlonic ammonia ismost toxic and its concentrationIncreases as the pH increases.1.2 to 3 p. p.m. of nonlonic ammo-nia (as NH^) has been reported asbeing toxic to hardy species offish.

d. Strong mineral acids , such asHgSOi^, HCl, and ENO3, and somemoderately weak organic acids canbe lethal to fully developed fish

in natural fresh water only when theyreduce the pH to below 5.0.

e. WesUt inorganic and organic acids ,

such as hydrosulfuric , hypochlorous

,

hydrocyanic, carbonic, chromic, tan-nic, and boric acids, and probablyalso Bulfurous, benzoic, acetic, andpropionic acids, csm Impart pro-nounced toxicity to seme waters forfresh-water fish without loweringthe pH to a value as low as 5.0.

f

.

Carbon dioxide - fish differ greatlyin their susceptibility. Sensitivefresh-water species may succumbrapidly under concentrations of be-tween 100 and 200 p. p.m. of free CO2with high dissolved oxygen concen-trations. Low CO2 concentrationsare lethal when the dissolved oxygenconcentration is low.

g. Solutions of hydrogen sulfide , freechlorine , chloramine , cysmogen chlo -

ride , carbon monoxide, ozone , phos -

phlne , and sulfur dioxide , are allextremely toxic to fish. Theseinorganic gases may be lethal tosensitive fish in concentrations of1.0 p. p.m. (and in some cases lessthan 0.1 p.p.m. ) and less.

h. Silver , mercury , copper , lead,cadmium , aluminum , zinc , nickel,tin, iron , gold, cerium

,platinum ,

thorium , and palladium , can beclassified as metals of high toxicityto fish. The salts of some of thesemetals are ccmparatlvely harmless inhighly mineralized waters, because ofprecipitation or because of insolublecompounds and antagonism. Some ofthe highly toxic metals are stronglysynergistic, such as zinc and copper.Calcium tends to counteract the

toxicity of seme of the heavy meteLLs.

Cupric, mercuric, and silver saltshave, in soft water, been toxic atmetal concentrations as low as 0.02to O.OOl*- p.p.m. In soft water, zinc,cadmiimi, lead and aluminum haveproved injurious to fish at concen-trations between 0.1 and O.5 p.p.m.Nickel and chromium (and peiiiaps iron)have not been observed to causetoxicity much below concentrations of1.0 p.p.m.

12

1. Sodium , calcium , strontium ,

magaesium ,potaasium , lithlm,

barium , manganous and cobeiltouB

ions have a relatively low tox-icity for fish. With but fswexceptions, they have not beenobserved to cause toxicity atconcentrations less than ^0 p. p.m.

The California State Water PollutionControl Board (12) lists some additionalfactors concerning water quality and theireffect on fish life. These factors aresummarized below:

a. Algae have affected fish life byproduction of toxic metabolicproducts; by clogging fish gillswhen tbey die in huge numbers;and by depleting the oxygen sup-ply when they die and decomposein large numbers.

b. Arsenic (a ccnpcneat of insecti-cides, weed killers, and manyindustrial WEustes) - from themeager infozmation available, it

appears that arsenic compoundconcentrations of less than 1.0

p. p.m. £ire not harmful.

c Bacteria - soine favor fish lifeby creating decomposition pro-ducts necessary in the food rhwin;

others may be haimful by deple-ting the oxygen or by causing aninfection in the fish (such ascolumnaris disease).

d. Benzene hexachi oride (an insecti-cide) - gamma Isomer reported tobe toxic to fish at 0.05 p.p.m.

,

the delta at 0.2 p.p.m., and thebeta at 2.0 p.p.m.

e. Bromine - fish siirvived for 48hours in concentrations of 10p.p.m. of molecular bromine.

f

.

Cadmium - minimum lethal concen-tre xon for stickleback has beenreported as 0.^ p.p.m. Cadmiumsalts may be more toxic.

g. Chlordane (an insecticide) - dusttoxic to fingerllngs of bass andbluegllls at concentrations of0.2 p.p.m.

h. Chlorides - 400 p.p.m. in freshwater reported hamful to trout.

i Color - no reported direct effect onfresh-water fishes.

J. Cresols - 10 p.p.m. fatal to anyfish under prolonged exposure.

k. Cyanides - toxic to sensitive fishat concentrations of less than 0.1p.p.m.

1. D.D.T . (an insecticide) - concentra-tions of less them 0.1 p.p.m. may belethal to fish life.

m. Dissolved solids - no appreciableeffect observed if solids below 400p.p.m.

n. Fluorides - Goldfish survived 100p.p.m. for over h days.

o. Fomaldehyde - 10 p.p.m. had noapparent effect on rainbow trout in3 days.

p. Hardness - An increase in waterhardness tends to reduce the tox-icity of many compoxmds.

q. Nitrates - no observed effect onfish life; favor growth of fish bypromoting growth of food chain.

r. Oil - 0.4 ml. oil per liter of waterreported to be toxic to fresh-waterfish. Kerosene applied at the rateof 25 gallons per acre, as a larvi-cide, had no effect on fresh-waterfish.

s. Pentachlorophenol (wood preservativeand also used for slime and algaecontrol) - lethal to fish life atconcentrations of 0.2 to 0.6 p.p.m.

t. Phenol concentrations of 1.0 p.p.m.or less will probably be safe formost fish.

u. Riosphates - not toxic to fish lifeand may be beneficial by increasingfood chain.

V. Selenium - constant exposure totraces of selenium has producedtoxic effects.

13

w. Silica - no reported effects.

X. Silt - fish can stand fairly-

heavy silt loads; the limits ofwhich have not been established.

y. Stilfates - good game fish arefound in waters containing lessthan 90 p. p.m. of sxilfates.

z. Sulfiir - no significant data.Mercaptans are reported to betoxic to fish (13) in concentra-tions of 0.5 to 1.0 p. p.m.

FTRT.n SAMPLING AND ANALYTICAL PROCEDURES- SAMPLING STATIONS

Field sampling

Sampling procedures were developedto obtain as nearly a representative sampleas possible frca the station to be sampled.The procedure had to be within the limita-tions of time, personnel, and equipmentavailable. There was good vertical mixingat all of the stream and canal stations.In the smaller streams and canals, no sig-nificant difference in water quality couldbe found within the cross-section. In thelarger streams, there was occeisional 1 y aslight change in water quality across thecross -section because of insufficienthorizontal mixing below a large tributary.Two or tliree samples were collected acrossthe cross-section of the stream (as neces-sary) when there was an indication ofinadequate horizontal mixing. Samples wereusually collected fran about mid-depth.

open position to the desired depth (in alake or where the stream flow is not rapid)and then a messenger is sent down theattached line. This messenger trips a setof holding forks and rubber stoppers movein to seal the cylinder of water within thesampler. Sample bottles are carefullyfilled from the sampler by use of a rubbertube at the sampler bcise. Sample bottlesused were the regular A.P.H.A.B.O.D. bottles,having a ground glass tapered stopper andholding about 30O ml. A weighted, displace-ment type, sampler was used where the cvir-

rent was swift or where the water was shal-low. TtiB sampler holds three B.O.D.bottles. During filling, to insure a re-presentative sample, the contents of thebottles are displaced three times into theouter container. This type of samplerbegins to fill immediately on lowering andis therefore not suited for deep reservoiror lake samples. Biological samples werecollected on the Wenatchee River system.This river system will be covered In a sepa-rate study report.

Analytical procedures

Water quality detenolnatlons weremade: (a) in the field at, or shortly afterthe time of sampling, for those qualitieswhose value would change on standing; (b)

in the laboratory within a day or two follow-ing sampling for those deteimlnations notgreatly affected by standing or where fieldtesting would be most difficult; and (c) bya private testing laboratory for elementanalysis. All analyses were in accordancewith "Standard Methods" (I9) unless otter-wise noted below.

During the I95I+-I955 sampling period,a single set of samples was collected frcmeach sampling location per visit. Thesingle samples were composites made fromseveral sample drops at the station. Sam-ples for dissolved oxygen, pH, and carbondioxide were not composited. The stationswere visited three or four times a monthduring the summer and once In November,December, March and May. In the 1955-1956sampling period, the stations were sampled(in the svmnner) every two weeks with aminimum of two sets of samples being ob-tained from each station on each visitation.

The water sampler most frequentlyused was a 1,200 ml. Improved type of Kem-merer sanpler. This sampler is lowered in

Deteimlnations made in the field andthe analytical procedure used were asfollows

:

a. Temperature - a centigrade ther-mometer, reading to 0.1" C. , wasdipped in the water when possible.If not, a portable resistancetheimcmeter was used, reading toabout 0.1* F. , which could belowered to any desired depth fora temperature reading.

b. pH - these values were generallymeasured electrometrically, usingglass and saturated calomel elec-trodes standardized against abuffer solution. Colorlmetrlc pH

111

determioations were made, using aglass disc color comparator whenan electrometric unit was judgedunreliable (following a trip overrough roads) and as a check on

the electrometric measurement.

c. Dissolved oxygen - samples weredosed at the time of collectionwith reagents for the sodiumazide (Alsterberg) modificationof the Winkler method. Percentof saturation was computed usingsea level saturation values atthe temperature of sample collec-tion. Percent of saturationvalues were not corrected for the

altitude of sample collection,i.e., barometric pressure.

d. Carbon dioxide - total carbondioxide was approximated by add-ing 0.02 N NaOH to the phenolph-thalein endpoint in a carefullycollected sample.

e. i\mmonla - sample was preservedwith 0.8 ml. of concentrated

HoSOi^ per liter of sample at time

of collection.

f

.

Alkalinity - total bicarbonate aand carbonate (if present) edka-linity were deteimined by titra-tion with 0.02 N HgSOi^ againstthe phenolphthaleln and methylorange endpoints.

g. Hardness - total hardness wasmeasured by titration using theSchwajTzenbach method. Carbonateand noncarbonate hardness werecalculated, using the total hard-ness—total alkalinity relation-ship.

Determinations made on samplesbrought back to the laboratory and theanalytical procedures used were as follows:

a. Color - "Aqua Tester" was used tomeasure color by comparison witha glass disc calibrated againstplatinum-cobalt standards. Exces-sive turbidity was removed bycentrifuging when necessary.

b. Turbidity - A Hellige turbidi-meter was used to measure low

turbidities. If turbidity valxies

exceeded 30* th* sample was di-

luted with distilled water. The

turbidimeter was calibratedagainst a Jackson candle turbidi-meter.

c. Conductivity - specific conduct-ance was measured using a Wheat-stone bridge and a specificconductance cell, calibratedagainst a standard ¥321 solution.

Values were recorded in micrcmho*/cm. , corrected to 25° C.

d. Ammonia - determinations weremade by direct nesslerizatlon In

nessler tubes, and color readingswere made by comparison with per-manent standards, or from anelectrophotcmeter calibratedagainst peimanent standards. Pre'

cipltated interferring substanceswere removed by filtration or bycentrifugation

.

e. Sulfates - the turtidimetricmethod was used by precipitatingthe sulfate ion with the bariumion in acid solution. Turbidityvalues, converted to p. p.m. ofsulfate ion, were read from aHellige turbidimeter calibratedagainst standard sulfate solu-tions .

f

.

Total solids - 100 ml. of sample

was evaported to dryness over awater bath, dried for at leastone hour at 103* C, and weighed.Total solids and dissolved solids

will have about the same valuefor nearly all stations whereturbidities were low.

Samples for element analysis wereperiodically sent to a commercial labora-tory set up for this type of analyticalwork. The elements they tested for and the

methods used were as follows:

a. Iron - Thiocyanate method, refer-ence (19).

b. Copper - Carbonate procedure,reference (19).

c. Zinc - "Colorlmetrlc Deteimina-tioDB of Traces of Metals" by

E. B. Sandeil, p. k^Q.

d. Aluminum - reference (19), P- 50.

e. Calcium - flame photcmeter against

standards

.

f. Magnesium - reference (19), titanyellow.

g. Sodium - flame pbotcaneter.

h. Potassium - flame pbotcraeter.

i. Lead - Sandeil dithizone method(modified).

J. Manganese - reference (19), peri-odic method.

k. Silver - Sandeil, dithizonatemethod, p. 400.

Sampling Stations -

Their Selection and Location

Sampling stations were chosen to meetthe following requirements:

a. Boat not required to get repre-sentative samples.

b. Station far enough below a tribu-tary so that samples would not beoverly influenced therefrom.

c. To sample the Columbia River mainstem above and below those sourcesof water quality change that mightaffect the fishery, and to samplefrom slgnif ic€Uit intemediatepoints

.

d. To sample Important tributariesso that main stem quality changescould more accurately be evaluated.

e. To obtain water quality data froma river basin where irrigationhas been stablized for a consider-able period of time.

f

.

To evaluate water quality changestaking place in irrigation watera^ it passes through the canalsand over the land.

g. To obtain quality data above and

below water impoundments.

h. To obtain quality data on ariver basin prior to dam con-struction.

Table 3 lists the sampling stationstogether with their river mile designation.River miles are the distance the stationis upstream frcm the mouth of the ColumbiaRiver. This infoimation was obtained fromreference (l8). For example, station 20

near the mouth of the Naches River has ariver mile designation of CYS-hk^. Thismeans that the total distance frcm themouth of the Columbia River (C) to themouth of the Yakima River (y) and up the

YaJcima River to the mouth of the NachesRiver (N) and the sampling station is M^5

miles. Figures 8 and 9 show the samplingstation locations.

Stations 1, 3, 8, U, 12, Ik, 1?,20, 23, and 25 near the mouths of theCowlitz, Lewis, Willamette, Deschutes,Unatilla, Sneike, Yakima, Naches, Wenatcheeand Okanogan Rivers respectively wereselected to evaluate what effect tribu-taries would have on Columbia River waterquality. Station 2 at Cathlamet and sta-tion 26 at Qr£uid Coxilee Dam were selectedas overall reference stations for anassessment of total water quality changesin the Columbia River between the mouthand the upper limit of fish migration.Stations 7, 9, 13, 16, 38, kO, and 2k, at

Vancouver, Bonneville Dam, McNary Dam,Pasco, Vantage, Rock Island Dam, and Brew-ster respectively, serve as intermediatecheck stations on the progression of waterquality changes in the Columbia River.

Stations 3, k, and 5 on the LewisRiver give an independent study on theeffect two impoundments (Yale and Merwin)have on a stream otherwise unaffected byman-made impoundments or diversions. Sta-tions 11, 12, Ik, 17 near the mouths of

the Deschutes, Umatilla, Snake and YakimaRivers will provide data indicative ofirrigation influences on a stream. Sta-tion 8 on the Willamette River will pro-vide data on a stream heavily polluted byindustry and domestic sewage.

Stations 17, 18, 19, 21, and 22 onthe Yakima River provide data on the pro-gressive effect irrigation return flow haul

on a river beusln highly developed for

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LOCATION OF SAMPLING STATIONSMIDDLE COLUMBIA RIVER AREA

4Ife'XO)

.,^M^Narg_Oam,

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t\

LOCATION OF SAMPLING STATIONS

LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER AREA

FIG. 9

Irrigation. Samples collected from station29 on Crab Creek show the nature of theground water seepage entering the ColumbiaBasin area itself. Water qxiality dataobtained frcm the Columbia Basin irrigationproject, stations 27, 28, 32, 33 > 3^, 35,

39, end I5, will show the progressive changein water quality as it progresses down theBasin canals, over the land, and back intothe canals. Vfenatchee River Basin stations

23, hi, 43, hk, 45, and k6 are to providebackground data on a river system's queility

prior to the construction of a system ofdams. (These stations will be discussed ina subsequent report. Plates 1 throxigh 10show these sampling stations.)

WATER QUALITY CHAJtGES WITHSTORAGE OF SAMPLES

Samples for water quality must behandled in a manner that will insure when

analyzed, a representative value of theconstituent actually present at the timethe sample was collected. This necessi-tates the performance of certain techniquesat the time the sample is collected. Un-fortunately, many samples cannot be trans-ported back to a laboratory for examinationat the convenience of the analyst. Allsamples must of course be collected inclean containers and be svifficient in num-ber to represent the average conditions inthe area sampled. Samples shoiild be storedin the dark to inhibit photosyntheticaction in the sample. Examples of specialcare that must be afforded samples fordifferent analyses follows:

Temperature : In shallow streams this canbe deteimined by wading and immersinga hand thermometer for a direct reading.Reversing thennometers are best foraccurate temperature measurements oflarger bodies of water but are not

19

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Sta, hU - Chiwawa R.Sta, Li5 - Wenatchee R, at Plain

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PLATE X

29

adaptable to field work involvingsampling swift streams, frcm bridges,or lakes from small boats. A portableresistance theimometer is suitable forlakes and deep, slow moving streams as

it readily gives temperature with depth.

When the stream is swift, it is possi-ble to get a reliable water temperatureby leaving the samples in the stream fora sufficient period to cool or warm to

the river temperature- The samples canthen be quickly brought to the surfaceand a hand theimometer immersed in the

center of the water in the samples.

Dissolved oxygen : These samples must becollected with a sampler that permitscollection without agitation or expo-sure to air. They must be dosed, imme-diately following collection, withreagents for iodine liberation. Samplesso dosed can be stored out of the sun-light for later titration in the labora-tory. If not dosed immediately, organicdecomposition will alter the dissolvedoxygen content or, if the sample waims,the oxygen solubility is lessened £uid

when the sample stopper is removed,oxygen will escape.

Carbon dioxIJe: This must be detennined atthe time of collection as organic deccan-

position in the sample increases thecarbon dioxide content.

pH, alkalinity and hardness : These shouldbe detennined when the sample is col-lected, or at least within 12 hoursunless the sample can be refrigerated.Production of carbon dioxide by biologi-cal deccanposition will lower the pH andalkalinity of the sample on standing.

To investigate the effect of delayedanalyses, samjiles of Snake River waterwere tested on collection and the re-mainder then returned to the laboratoryfor periodic determinations on pH, totalaLLkalinity, carbonate alkalinity andtotal hardness. Figure 10 is an averageplot of these deteminations over aperiod of 62 days. During these 62 days,the samples remained on the laboratoryshelf in a quiescent state. In the first

120 9

O O O

TOTAL HARDNESS

PH-

20

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER10 20

NOVEMBER

SNAKE RIVEREFFECT OF SAMPLE STORAGE ONpH, ALKALINITY, AND HARDNESS.

SAMPLE COLLECTED SEPT 14, 1955

FIG. 10

30

six days, the pH dropped from 9 '05 to

Q.k, declining stesidily thereafter to8.2. This decline csin be attributed to

the carbon dioxide (carbonic acid)released on decomposition of the organicmatter in the sample. The carbonate(C03~) alkalinity dropped 10 p.p.m. tozero in the course of 26 days. Theseceirbonates were changed to the bicarbon-ate (HCOo") by carbon dioxide in thepresence of water (003= + CO2 + H2O =

2HCO2"). TotEil hardness and total alka-linity decreased 2 to 3 p. p.m. duringthe 62 days. This slight decrease wasprobably due to assimilation of theseconstituents in the cell structure ofmicroorganisms and to precipitation.(Samples were not shaken prior to eachdetermination)

.

Ammonia : This is largely produced by bio-logical activity. Since ammonia deter-minations are not practicable to run in

the field, the samples must be preservedwith sulfuric acid during their trans-portation to the laboratory. In the

laboratory, they should be refrigerateduntil the analysis can be made.

Color : These deteiminations can be made in

the laboratory vinless iron or manganesein any appreciable amounts are in thesample in a soluble foim that will berendered insoluble on seration. Colorsamples should be stored out of thebleaching action of sunlight.

Turbidity : Suspended matter in a sampletends to settle and coalesce after aperiod of several days. If then shakenprior to a turbidity test, the particleswill not separate and give the sameturbidity readings as they would if mea-sured within a day of sample collection.

Total solids : Biological decompositionwill reduce the organic solids in asample if permitted to continue over aperiod of several days. Total or organ-ic solids should be determined within aday or two of sample collection.

Others: Determinations for sulfate, con-ductivity and the various elements arenot appreciable altered through storageof the sample prior to auialyses.

RELIABILITY OF WATER QUALITY DATA

The water quality of a stream is con-tinuously changing. In a given stream, the

value of the constituent tested for willvary with the rate of stream flow, with the

water use and with the air temperature orseason of the year. To obtain a reliabledocumentation of the water quality, one has

the problem of determining how many and howfrequently water samples should be collected.

In their 12 established sampling stationsin the Columbia River Basin, the U. S. Geo*

logical Survey normally collects a water sam.-

ple each day. These samples for a ten-dayperiod are composited in ratio with each sam-

ple's conductivity. Thus, three constituent

values are determined during each month of

sampling. Even with these numerous san^jles,

there are abrupt changes at some stations inthe constituent values. The most accxirate

procedure would be the daily analysis of eachsample. This becomes a virtual impossihillty

when the nvmiber of samples and constituents

tested for are large. Collection of dailysaiqDles by a local resident of the area is a

good and an inexpensive way to get numerous

samples. It has the disadvantage of not per-

mitting a test for dissolved gases, ammonia,

phosphates, etc., and the samples have beenstored for a considerable period prior to

analysis (see section on storage of samples).

On this contract, because of the large

number of sampling stations involved, be-cause of the necessity of measuring dis-solved oxygen, etc. at each station and be-cause of a limited budget, it was notpossible to get frequent samples at eachstation. Stations were sampled (compositesat each station of two or more Individualsamples) with a frequency of at least once

a month in the winter and up to ten times in

the summer months. To evaluate the reli-

ability of these samples with those collectedby the Geological Survey in 19IO-II and

1953-5^, a statistical analysis was made of

the alkalinity values obtained from the

lower YEikima River. (Available time wouldnot penult a more complete analysis.)

Alkalinity values were avereiged foreach month of the year. For all three sets

of data, it was found that these alkalinityvalues did not follow a normal arithmetic orgeometric frequency distribution. In a fre-quency distribution. In a frequency plot,

the data divided themselves into two dlstiactgroups; those for low flows, and those for

31

high flows; with an abrupt transitionbetween the groups. Each set of data wasthen adjusted with each individual alka-linity vsilue being corrected for the ratioof dilution between the flow at the timeof sampling and the mean ann\]al flow. This

is an inverse relationship. Logarithmicplotting of frequency of occxirrence onsemi-log paper emd on log probability papershowed the adjusted data to be geometri-cally nonnal. Ccmparative adjusted alka-linity values derived were as follows:

Gecnetrlc mean;

Standard deviation:

AUtallnlty range containing

50^ of the obeervatlone

;

U.S.G.S.1910-11

37

3.11.

17-80

U.S.G.S.19?3-5''

85

1.22

7'»-97

Col . Rlv . Sur

.

195't-56

69

1.1*1

55-87

On logarithmic probability paper, allthree plots overlapped in the highest valuerange but were well gapped throughout theremainder of the plot. The gaps betweenthe 191O-II values and the contemporaryvalues were large, indicating a significantchange in river alkalinity during the in-tervening period that is not caused bychance alone. The gap between the U.S.G.S.1953-5^ plot and the 195^-56 Columbia RiverSurvey plot was small, the U.S.G.S. datashowing the highest values. These highervsLLues are caused principally by lowerriver flows during the 1953-5^ samplingperiod. These differences in alkalinityare likewise sho^^n in the differences be-tween the geometric means and the standarddeviations from the mean. The alkalinityrange containing 50 percent of the obser-vations has narrowed greatly since I9IO,indicating an increase in year-around alka-linity values with the largest increaseoccurring during the non-summer months (seechapter on "YaJcima, River, Irrigation andPollutional Effects").

The standard error of the mean (S.E.

=^^'^

'v''^^'

) for the 1953-5^ U. S. Geolo-

gical Survey's 36 samples = I.03. Thisindicates, with other conditions being com-parable, that the variation of 68 percentof their yearly means, by chance alone,will fall within the range of 82-88. Sincethis is a reasonably narrow range, itappears that tri -monthly analyses of compo-site samples is a practicaliLe compromise.To narrow this range down to 8U-80, 287

yearly, or 2k monthly samples would berequired. This would almost require adaily sample analysis which is impracti-cable if a large number of sampling sta-tions is involved.

Conductivity and solids

Solids or residue analyses are re-ported as either total solids or separatelyas suspended and dissolved solids (whosesum equals total solids). In the vastmajority of samples tested, excepting forCrab Creek, the turbidity was low and thedifference between total solids and dis-solved solids was small. Total solidsonly, were measured in this study becauseof time limitations.

Conductivity is closely related tothe dissolved ionized constituents in awater (I6, I9) and can be used as a checkon the dissolved solids or total solids(if turbidity is low) analysis. The testfor conductivity is rapid and precise,whereas the test for solids is very slowand subject to severe errors in samplingor weighing. Over a period of time, ratiosof conductivity to solids can be estab-lished for a given stream. This ratio canbe used to check the reliability of anysingle solids determination. Figure 11 is

a plot of random conductivity and totalsolids values obtained throughout theColumbia River Basin. A straight line re-lationship exists between the two. Thisplot is slightly curved because the highervalues were for the Crab Creek area whereturbidity was high. If the Crab Creeksamples had been analyzed for dissolved,and not total solids, the solids valueswould have been lower, giving a straightline plot. From Figure 11, it is deter-mined that any single conductivity valueminus 50 can be multiplied by 0.7^ to givethe approximate value of the total (if

turbidity is low) or dissolved solids.Using this relationship and comparing theconductivity versus solids values in thetabulations herein, it Is obvious whichsolids values are probable in error. Itshould be noted that the relationship is

of little value where the conductivity is

less than I50 micromhos.

Hydrogen ion concentration (pH)

These values were measured in thefield at the time of sampling with colori-

on the Lewis River in 1931, fish in thedownstream salmon hatchery died. The deathof these fish was blamed on several differ-ent factors, viz.; water quality changesbrought about by the release of impoundedwaters with their decomposition productsfrom a reservoir site that was not clearedof organic debris; by the leeching of alka-li from the dam itself; by the leeching oftoxic materials frcxn the inundated reser-voir area; by a rise in water temperatures;or from Improper arrangements for hatcheryoperation.

A letter frcxn the California Depart-ment of Fish and Game, December 31, 1956,is quoted in part to illustrate theirexperiences with new reservoirs on waterquality.

"When Folscan Dam was completed lastyear, we experienced a very severe problemof oxygen depletion in the American Riverbelow the dam. You may know that the

reservoir site was not cleared too care-fully. The dam was completed in the springof 1955 hut ver^-- little water was storedthat year. By September of that year thestorage was down to less than 50,000 acrefeet. At that time there were about tendays of extremely hot weather and thereservoir became septic. Water releasesthrough the power house into the afterbaydam contained no dissolved oxygen and upto ten parts per million of dissolved svuL-

fides.

"As a result the water in the after-bay reservoir became septic and a consider-able mortality resulted in the trout thathad been planted there a short time before.

"The Department of Fish and Gameoperates a salmon hatchery to replace thespawning area cut off by the constructionof Folsom Dam, using water from the after-bay as a source of supply. The detentiontime in the afterbay reservoir is quiteshort, and although the reservoir is aboutsix miles long there was insufficient sera-tion to reoxygenate the water before itreached the hatchery intake at the afterbaydam.

"As a result, we experienced a con-siderable mortality of salmon in thehatchery and it took the river about sevenmiles to recover to a point above 5.0 partsper million with a flow of over 500 c.f.s.

"This condition persisted for abouttwo weeks until the weather became coolerand there was some rain which produced semefresh water inflow into the reservoir.

"This is the first time this hashappened in California and it caused usconsiderable difficulty. The problem didnot occur this year because there was agreat deal more water stored in FolsomReservoir.

"This pretty well convinced us of thenecessity of very good clearing of organicmaterial from large reservoir sites. Shastaand Millerton reservoirs, which are similarin appearance and size of Folsom, had nooxygen depletion problem develop in eitherinstance. The reservoirs were completelycleared.

"The situation at Copco Dam is some-what different. The Klamath carried arather considerable algae load and there is

a rather well-defined thermocline in CopcoReservoir. I believe that the power houseintEikes are below the theimocline and as aresult the discharge is deficient in dis-solved oxygen at times but the river re-covers very rapidly and I don't think it is

having siny effect on the fisheries resourcesof the stream."

R. M. PaulWater Projects Coordinator

Data were collected from the Yale andMerwin Reservoirs on the Lewis River, theBonneville, McNary and Roosevelt Reservoirson the Columbia River and from Lake Wenat-chee. These data are not included in thisreport as they are brief and were obtainedfor the purpose of interpreting downstreamwater quality. Lake Wenatchee water qualityvalues win be included in a separate reporton the Wenatchee River Basin.

Streams

Table B in the appendix lists samplingstations one through forty together withthe minimxmi, average and maximum constituentvalues observed during the sampling periodof Jvine 195'^ through September of 1955- Sta-tions 13, 1^, 16, 17, 22, 23, 37, 38 and koare for the period of June 1954 throughDecember 1956. Average values do not repre-

sent a true average for the period sincethe sampling frequency was not unifonn.

>k

The month of sample collection is indicatedin the table. Table C in the appendixlists the average monthly values of theconstituents at each station together withthe year or years of sampling. Figures 12through 25 illustrate the principal con-stituent variations at representative loca-tions in the Columbia River Basin.

GenereLL: With the exception of the Willa-mette River, all streams s£unpled had anabundance of dissolved oxygen. Supersatu-rated conditions were frequent during the

summer when phytoplankton activity was high.Dissolved oxygen values as low as 2.8 p. p.m.

were observed in the lower Willamette Riverduring August. The Snake, Unatilla andlower Yakima Rivers together with Crab andRocky FordCreeks differ markedly from theother streams sampled because of theirrelatively high content of dissolved mate-rial, high summer eilkalinities and becauseof their high summer water temperatures.The Snake River has a meirked influence onthe Columbia River water quality belowPasco.

O Y-

FEe yAR VR MAT JUN lUG SEP OCT NOV DEC.

Trace elements tested for were low.Lesui and silver were not found at anysampling station. Manganese was obseirved

in trace quantities only on the LewisRiver below Merwin Dam. Traces of copperwere found occasionally at several samplingstations as was zinc and eiluminum.

Columbia River: Figure 12 is a monthlyaverage plot of selected and constituentsbelow Coulee Dam. Minimum values lag the

period of high runoff by about two monthsbecause of the large storage in LakeRoosevelt and in the Ceinadian lakes £ind

impoundments. The yearly fluctuation in

constituents is relatively low because ofthe leveling-off or evening-out effect ofthe impoundments which mix the inflowingwaters. Figure I3 is a similar plot forthe Columbia River at Maryhill, 85 milesbelow McNary Dam. The yearly range inconstituent values fluctuate far more thanat Grand Coulee and they more closelyfollow the rate of river discharge in aninverse relationship. Maximum constitu-ents are in the autumn when the river flowis low.

8

300 400 500 600 700

RIVER MILES FROM MOUTH OF COLUMBIAJULY. AUG, SEPT AVG-

OEC

FIG 14.-- COMPARISON OF COLUMBIA RIVER WATER QUALITY - CANADA TO MOUTH

300 400 500 600

RIVER MILES FROM MOUTH OF COLUMBIAJULY, *UG, SEPT AVG

DEC

FIG. 16 COMPARISON OF COLUMBIA RIVER WATER QUALITY - CANADA TO MOUTH

Figures l^f, 15 and l6 are plots ofColumbia River water quality from Revel

-

stoke, B. C. to Cathlamet, Washington,using Canadian, U.S.G.S. and University ofWashington data. These figures show ageneral reduction in, or uniform value in,the constituents from Revelstoke, B. C tothe confluence of the Snake and YakimaRivers near Pasco. Most of the tributariesin this stretch of the river are high qual-ity waters. Maximum constituent valuesoccur in the vicinity of Maryhill. FromMaryhill to the mouth, most constituentvalues decline because of the influx of thewestern slop rivers that are lower in dis-solved substances. Constituent values areusually higher in December than during thesummer because of lower flows and lowerwater temperatures.

Yakima River: Figure 17 illustrates theconstituents found in the lower YakimaRiver during a typical year. The constitu-ents are fairly uniform in value fromDecember to July. After July through Novem-ber, the river flow sharply decreases andthe constituents about double in value. Asdiscussed in a subsequent chapter on the

3«

in the summer is high quality water dis-

charged into the reservoirs during the

spring runoff. Some calcium and magnesiumis apparently taken into solution in the

reservoirs. A slight rise in temperatureis shovm through the reservoirs. Dissolvedoxygen below Merwin Dam ranged from 78 to

over 100 percent saturation. There was a

slight increase in carbon dioxide content

through the reservoirs with a correspondingdecrease in pH. The decrease in ammonia is

probably caused by an oxidation of the

ammonia to nitrites or nitrates as the

water passes through the reservoirs. Waterquality observations below Merwin Dam in

November, December and March give generallyhigher constituent values (see Table C,

appendix) for the reservoir discharge than

for the inflow. This increase is small.

Columbia Basin Irrigation Canal: Irriga-tion canals were sampled in the ColumbiaRiver Basin Project to give information onthe water quality as it traversed the landand to give some indication of the qualityof future return flow waters from the pro-ject, once a stablized water table is

reached. The project was-but partially

developed in the summers of 195^ and 1955when sampling was conducted. A total of110,000 acres of a future total of some1,000,000 acres was under irrigation in

1954. The U. S. Bureau of Reclamation fore-casts that 600,000 acres will be underirrigation by I96I. They expect to applyabout four acre-feet of water per acre ofland during the irrigation season of whichperhaps fifty percent will ultimately findits way back to the Columbia River as returnflow. Figure 8 shows the location of thesampling stations in the Basin development.

Figures 2k and 25 are a plot of aver-age Bummer water qualities at selectedstations along the main canals. The waterfor irrigation is pumped from behind CouleeDam to the main canal which traverses twoartificial lakes to its diversion into thewest and east canals. Some 80 miles fromCoulee Dam, the spent and excess irrigationwaters are collected in the Potholes Reser-voir which in turn supplies the PotholesEast Canal. The last sampling stationplotted (station I5) is on this canal. Atstation 15, the irrigation water had tra-versed some 150 miles of canals and

reservoirs and some of it had passed overthe fields. A large rise in all constitu-ents is shown in figures 2k and 25. The

rise is particularly abrupt after the waterpasses through the Potholes Reservoir. Atstation 15, the water quality is very simi-lar to that of the lower Snake and Yeikima

Rivers. This is to be expected since the

soil characteristics are similar. Thus,we can expect that the future return flowsfrom the Columbia Basin Project will havean effect on the Columbia River water qual-ity similar to that produced by the Yakimaand Snake Rivers. It will be a less pro-nounced effect than that of the Snake Riverbecause the irrigated acreage will besmaller.

Crab and Rocky Ford Creeks: These creekswere sampled because they Indicate thequality of natural drainage waters from theColumbia Basin area. They are both high indissolved constituents and quite euLkeiline.

Crab Creek, near its mouth (station 37) is

quite turbid, very warm in the summer,highly alkaline, and has a relatively highsodium £uad sulfate content. It can beexpected that Crab Creek water will improvein quality as increasing eimounts of spentand surplus irrigation waters are dis-charged therein.

MONTHLY CHANGES IN RIVERTEMPERATURES

Thermograph installations are main-tained on the Columbia River main stem andon its principal tributaries by the U. S.

Fidiand Wildlife Service and on the Wenat-chee River system by the Chelan CountyP.U.D. Limited thermograph records havebeen obtained by the Washington PollutionControl Commission on the Yakima River atDonald, Chandler and Richland for the sum-mer of 1955- Thermometer readings aretaken regularly by the U. S. Corps ofEngineers, the Bureau of Reclamation andpower companies at their major dams. AtVancouver, Washington, the U. S. WeatherBureau has been taken hand thermometerreadings of the Columbia River since 19^1.Hand thermometer temperatures have beenobtained to an extensive or limited degreein the Basin by the Hanford EngineeringWorks, the Washington Pollution ControlCommission, Health Department and Depart-ment of Fisheries, the U. S. Public HealthService, the City of Portland and Wenatchee,

Oregon State College and the University ofWashington.

Table h lists the thermograph dataobtained by the U. S. Fish and WildlifeService and the Chelan County P.U.D.

A compilation of average monthlywater temperatures for different streamson similar years is of value for purposesof comparison and to document river basintemperatures at that time. Table 5 liststhe average monthly water temperatures forthe years, or portions of the years, of195'4--195d at 34 stations in Ih rivers andciêks of the Columbia River Basin wheretemperature data were available. Tempera-tures in the table followed by ein asteriskare approximate only as they were calcu-lated from limited hand thermometer read-ings corrected for diurnal temperaturefluctuations. The following observationscan be made from a study of table 5

:

1. The Columbia River discharges to

the ocean from October to February, waterthat is from 1-5° F. colder than the waterat Coulee Dam for the same time. FromMarch to September, it discharges at atemperature from 2-6° F. warmer than at

Coulee Dam. Highest water temperaturesare in August and lowest in March. Duringa typical year, the temperature will varythroughout the river from 36° F. at CouleeDam to b5° F. near the mouth.

2. The Okanogein River discharges tothe Columbia River during the summer at alower temperature than it has at Oroville,

73 miles upstream. This is due, evidently,to the discharge of colder stream andground water into the Okanogan below Oro-ville .

3. In the Wenatchee River system,temperatures extend from the freezing level

in February to about 61° F. in August.During the summer, water discharged intothe headwaters of the Wenatchee River fromLake Wenatchee has about the same tempera-ture as the water discharged to the Colum-bia River, 55 miles downstream. Thenormal summer warming of the river through-out its course is offset by the inflowingcooler Chiwawa River and Nason and IcicleCreeks

.

k. Water temperatures in Crab Creekare markedly influenced by discharges of

Ui

Table h.—Thermograph record inventory.

Station

Vi

%% \/\ V\ To f^ (Si i i-i_3 _3 -3 -3 -a -a

V\^.hT^>^0 on iH

5

waste Irrigation water. This is the warm-est stream observed in the Basin. Afternoontemperatures have reached 84.7° F. near thecreek mouth during unusually warm weather.

5- The SnaJce River reaches a tempera-ture in excess of 72° F. in August and lessthan 35° F. in the winter. In August, itis 8.5' F. wanner than the Columbia Riverat its confluence and in December it is 8°

F. colder. In late July of 195^ (a waimsummer) , afternoon water temperaturesexceeded 77° F.

6. The Yakima River has the largesttemperature rise during the summer, fromits headwaters to confluence with the Colum-bia, of any stream in the Columbia RiverBasin. In August, between Thorp and theoutlet at Richland (160 miles), the tempera-ture increases from ^k' F. to 7I.3 ° F.

This high temperature rise of 17° F. is duelargely to irrigation return flows. Inlate July of I956, temperatures of 67° F.

at Thorp and 83° F. at Richland (correctedfor diurnal fluctuation) were observed.

7. In the late summer, the UmatillaRiver flow becomes very small due to aseasonal reduction in flow and diversionsfor irrigation. Water temperatures inAugust reached 78° F. in the late afternoon.

8. Deschutes River temperatures areclose to those of the Columbia at its con-fluence. This large river (M.A.F. of about6200 c.f.s.) has little influence on Colum-bia River water temperatures.

9. The lower Willamette River iswaim during the late summer. Water tempera-tures in excess of 71° F. were observed inlate August of I955 when air temperatureswere below normal.

10. The Lewis River is one of thecoldest tributaries of the Columbia Riverduring the summer. At Merwin Dam, duringthe periods of observation, the water tem-perature extended from a low of 39° F. inMarch to a dally high of 56° F. in Septem-ber.

11. The Cowlitz, like the Lewis River,has a cooling effect on the Columbia Riverduring the summer. The maximum daily tem-perature observed in the Cowlitz Riverduring the summer of 195i^ was 6l° F.

Colijmbia River temperatures

Yearly temperatures are recorded onthe Columbia River at four locations, viz.:Vancouver, Bonneville, Umatilla and RockIsland. Tables 6-9 list the average mon-thly temperatures and figures 26-29 depictthese temperatures for the period of record.

Figures 26-27 for Vancouver and Bonne-ville are very similar, as one would expect,with water temperatures at Vancouver beingslightly higher during the summer and slight-ly lower than at Bonneville during the re-mainder of the year. The maximum temperaturealways occurred in August, excepting for theyear 19*^1, when it occurred in July. InJuly of 19^+1, the river flow was the loweston record because of the need to fill theGrand Coulee Reservoir. Maximum August tem-peratures range from 63° F. tosbout 69° F.

with an average of 67° F. while minimum tem-peratures in January range from 3^° F. toU2° F. with an average of 38° F. This givesan average yearly temperature variation atVancouver and Bonneville of 29° F.

At Unatilla (fig. 28) the ColumbiaRiver is 1-2 degrees colder than at Bonne-ville during the spring, summer and autumnand is about one degree wanner in the winterMaximum water temperatures in August rangefrom 63.5° F. - 67.5° F. with an average of66.5° F. Minimum water temperatures inJanuary range from 35 -'+0° F. with an averageof 39° F. This gives an average yearly tem-perature variation of 27.5° F. Umatillatemperatures could be average only for thelimited period of 1950-1955- It is quiteprobable that the temperature ranges woiild

be wider if data for earlier years wereavailable

.

In October, November, December andJanuary, the Columbia River at Rock Islandis about one degree warmer than at Iteatilla.

For the remainder of the year, it is 1-3degrees cooler. Figure 29 shows a maximumtemperature variation in August of 61.5' F.- 68.5° F. with an average of 65° F. Theminimum temperature in February ranges from32° F. - 42.5° F. with an average of 37-It is significant to note that the maximum£ind minimum water temperatures occurredprior to water impoundment at Grand Coulee.

On figure 29, the average monthly airtemperature at Wenatchee (for period of

-Vi

Table 6.—Coltunbia River at Vancouver, Washington

Monthly temperatures °F., 19hl-19Sh, at 10 ft. depth.

Data from Elmer Fisher, U. S. Weather Bureau, Portland, Oregon

Tear Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Juna July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.

19la ~ $3.8

19h2 3h.h UO.O U3.5 51.3

19U3 33.3 38.U li2.3 50.0

19hh 37.8 Uo.7 U3.8 18.5

19li5 U0.9 la.l U3.U 19.1

19U6 liO.O 38 .li li3.8 U9.9

19U7 3U.1 38.0 li3.1 U9.7

19U8 38.8 38.6 U3.5 Uh,f>

19k9 32.U 3U.U U2.5 U9.8

1950 3U.0 35.0 U2.6 liT.O

1951 39.3 37.8 U.O U9.3

1952 35.0 39.6 i;2.0 5o

1953 li3.0 U3.0 hh.f> 50

1951; 39 39 U3.5 55

58.1

Table 7.—Columbia River at BonnevilleAverage monthly water temperatures °F., 19Ult-1955.

Data from U. S. Corps of Engineers and U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Year

Table 8.—Columbia River at Umatilla, Oregon

Avsragi? ir.ontlily water temperatures °F., 19Uli-1955.

Data from U. S. Fish and Wilrilife Servj.ce and U. S. Corps of Engineers

Tear Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Hay June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Not, Deo.

19iai — __ «. 67oO 68.8 — — — _

19U5 — 57.8 6U.8 68.3 -^

19l;6 — — — — — 58.6 63.8 68.1 6JioU — —

19U7 - — 58.9 65.0 67.0 6U.7 — — —

19U8 -. — — — 67.1 — — ~ —

19U9 -- 53.U 56.7 63.9 66.9 63.7 ~ — —1950 35.5 36.5 h2,h U7.1 51.9 55.6 63.0 67.5 65.3 57.U U9o5 Uh,3

1951 Uo.l 39.1i la.6 li9.5 53.5 58.5 63.U 67.I 6U.U 57.5 U8,3 39.9

1952 36.2 37.7 la.h U9.7 53.3 58.

U

6U.8 67.2 6U.9 60.O U9.6 Ui,0

1953 li2.9 Ii2,2 Uto2 U6.6 — 56.7 62.8 67.6 61;.9 58.9 — hh.7

195U 39.1 39.9 U2.9 17.9 52.3 55.U 60,2 63.7 63.2 55.5 50.6

1955 39.2 39.0 39.3 ii5.2 51.7 56.1 59.6 66.0 6U.7 57.8 50.9

ATg.1950-55 38.8 39.1 la.9 U7.7 52.5 56.8 62.3 66.5 6U.6 57.8 1^9.8 U3.2

U7

Table 9.—Columbia River at Rock IslandAverage monthly water temperatures °F., 1933-1955.Data from Puget Sound Power and Light Company, and

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Year

68

64

60

U.• 56r

!^

t-

tr

44

40

36

4f

WATER TEMPERATURE— 'f

CATHLAMET, STA 2

VANCOVER , STA. 7 WILLAMETTE -

BONNEVILLE , STA.

9

WHITE SALMON —H *^°°°

KLICKITAT

UMATILLA , STA. 13

WALLA WALLA-*

mSCO. STA. 16

BELOW VANTAGE STA. 38 CRAB CRK.—-j

ROCK ISLAND , STA. 40

BREWSTER, STA 24

1 WENATCHEE

NESPELEM—iH

BELOW GRAND COULEE DAM, STA 26

METHOW

FIG 30

SO

record) has been plotted. (Wenatchee was

selected as the air temperature in Wenat-

chee is representative of the Columbia

Basin. ) Note the similarity between the airand water temperature patterns. Air tem-

peratures range from a low of 26° F. in

January to a high of 7^+° F- in July for a

range of U8' F. , water temperature range is

28° F. The rate of rise and fall of monthlyair temperatures is about twice that of the

water temperatures. Water temperaturechanges Isig air temperature changes by about

one month. This is due to the high heatcapacity of the water and the 750 miles of

river lying above Rock Island.

Figure 30 illustrates the relativewater temperatures in the Columbia Riverfrom Grand Coulee Dam to Cathlamet during aperiod in September 195^4- when tributarywater temperatures had been taken, it alsoshows temperatures in December of 195^*^ forpurposes of comparison (no tributary tem-peratures ) . In September, the water leftCoulee Dam with a temperature of 60.6° F.

Flowing downstream, the temperature gradu-ally rose to a high of 6^4-. 4° F. at Bonne-ville and then gradually declined to 63.9°

F. at Cathlamet. Tributary streams on the

east side of the mountains that flow throiigh

areas of irrigated farming, or areas where

solar radiation is at a maximum, were wannerthan the Columbia. (Okanogan, Chelan, CrabCreek, Yeikima, Snake, Walla Walla, Umatillaand John Day Rivers.) Tributary streams westof the mountains and those on the easternslope receiving a minimum of solar radiationwere cooler. (Nespelem, Entiat, Wenatchee,Deschutes, Klickitat, Hood, White Salmon,Wind, Lewis, Kalama and Cowlitz Rivers.) TheMethow and Willamette Rivers temperatureswere about the same as the Columbia. In

December, the water left Grand Coulee Reser-voir at a temperature of W F. , declininggradually to U3° at Pasco. Between Pascoand Utaatilla, the temperature fell 2° F.

because of the colder Snake River inflow. Alow temperature of kO' F. was observed atBonneville, with a gradual rise down riverto 4l.5°F. , at Cathlamet, illustrating thewanner winter air temperature effect west ofthe Cascades.

Yakima and Wenatchee Rivers andColumbia Basin irrigation temperatures

Water temperature data at selectedpoints along the stream are available fromonly the Yakima and Wenatchee Rivers (other

than the Columbia). Figure 3I is a plot of

ao

70

«

1

S 60

1

UJ

I 50UJ

1

40

30

water temperatures (corrected for diurnalvariation) in the Yakiioa River betweenEnterprise (near Richland) and Thorp (above

Ellensburg) for selected days of the year.

The irrigation season extends from Marchto October with the heaviest water applica-tions being from May through September.

Irrigation return flows enter the river

below Ellensburg and from below Yakima to

the river mouth. Most of the return flows

bring water into the river at a temperature

higher than the river temperature. The

water temperature increase, between Thorpand Enterprise of 3.5* F. at the beginning

of the irrigation season in March, rises

to a 20° F. increase in August at the endof the heavy irrigation season. Average

air temperatures at YaJcima are shown on the

figure for the date of sampling. These are

the average for the day proceeding tempera-ture meeisurement , the day of measurementand the day following. In December, Marchand May, the water temperature around Yaki-ma is higher than the air temperature. In

June, August and September, the water tem-perature is lower than the air temperaturein the vicinity of Yakima. This illustratesthe effect of solar heating in the winterand spring together with the entrance ofground waters higher in temperature thanthe air. These ground waters and the reser-voirs have a cooling effect in the summer.

Figure 32 shows the warmer waterdischarge by Lake Wenatchee being cooledbelow the outlet by the colder water ofthe Chiwawa River and Nason Creek. Theonly significant change in temperature be-tween the headwaters and the outlet occursin the spring and autumn. In the springthe water temperature increases about '4-''

F. and in the autumn decreases about k" F.

between the headwaters and the outlet.Air and water temperatures have about thesame relationship as on the Yakima River.

The water temperature rise in theColumbia Basin main irrigation canals be-tween GrEind Coulee Dam and the Ik^ milesof canals and reservoirs is shown infigure 33. A temperature rise of Ik" F.

is noted for August I7, 1955. This is acommon rise on sunny days. The canal watertemperatures are very sensitive to airtemperatures when immediately below a largereservoir. On June 29 and July 22, a tem-perature decline beyond the PotholeG Reser-voir is shown when nonnally the temperaturewould rise. This decline is caused by less

than average air temperatures on theproceeding day and day of the observations.The temperature decline beyond the PotholesReservoir in September shows how the reser-voir water, warmed during the summer, is

cooled when it is released in a stream forintimate contact with autumn air tempera-tures. Rapid water temperature rises are

shown through the broad and shallow Equal-izing and Potholes Reservoirs. Averagemonthly air temperatures for the month ofobservation are shown for Moses Leike weatherstation, this being about the center of the

Baîn. Water temperatures are higher thanair temperatures for each month exceptingJune, indicating a high degree of solar ra-

diation absorption.

WENATCHEE RIVER TEMPERATURESAVERAGE MONTHLY. 1955-56CHELAN PUO THERHOCRAPH REC0R06

-LJ \ LJMILES ABOVE RIVER MOUTH

FIG. 32

NOFMAL RIVER WATER TEMPERATURECHANGES WITH DISTANCE

A stream, during its nonnaJ. unhindered

flow, will usually experience a rise or fall

in water temperature as it progresses down-

stream. The magnitude of this temperature

change is related to the depth of flow,

quantity of flow, turbulence, season of the

!^2

FIG. 33

year, relationship between upstream anddownstream air temperatures, shadingafforded by vegetation or land masses (orother factors that will affect absorptionof solar radiation), tributary streams, andthe entrance of ground water. It is neces-sary to know these normal temperaturechanges if estimations are to be made onthe effect reservoirs have had on the tem-perature of a particular stream. Few tem-perature data are available on PacificNorthwest streams for stream sections whereman has not already produced some structureto change the original stream environment.

Table 10 shows the noimal temperaturerise or fall in streams where the streamsection did not contain an impoundment ora tributary of any significant magnitude.In the streams listed, large impoundmentsexist on the upstream waters. These pro-duce a moderating effect on the water tem-perature which is particularly significantat the upstream station shown herein ontable 10.

Only general stream characteristics

are given as it is Impracticable to attemptthe computation of water temperature changesin relationship with each of the influencingvariables. Data shown are for the period ofobservation only and should not necessarilybe construed as being representative ofusual conditions. Temperature change valuesare all reasonable and comparable exceptingfor the lower Snake River in the early sum-mer where a temperature fall of frcm 1.55to 2.13° F- per 100 river miles was observed.A temperature increase would have been ex-pected because of the difference betweenair and water temperatures and because ofabsorption of solar radiation. In earlyJune of 19^5 and 1950 the Snake River wasexperiencing its maximum yearly runoff,which, with a late snow melt, might accountfor the temperature decline. This is nottrue in July of 19^5 where the temperaturedecrease was still greater and the flowmuch lower. It is possible that cold groundwater in appreciable quantities enters the

river in this section or that the points ofhand thermometer temperature readings werenot representative of the average river tem-perature .

$3

Table 10.—Normal river nater terqperature changes—°F per 100 miles

Data from U. S. Fish and Wildlife Senrice

and Columbia River surrey

River stretch

Wenatchee River

Plaln-Oashmere

Miles

27

TaMjia River

Thorp-Selah S3

Union Gap-Enterprise 96

Coltinbia River

Elmer City-Rock Island IhO

Uinatilla-Bonnevllle

Bonneville-Cathlamet

Snalffi River

Clarkston-Rlparla

Riparia-Burbank

IM

106

71

66

DIUEKAL WATER TEMPERATURE VARIATIOMS

L€urge diurnal water temperature fluc-tuations are found in the rivers east of the

Cascade Mountains because of the extremesbetween daytime and night time air tempera-ture. This daily fluctuation in air tem-peratxire for eastern Washington (and othereastern areas in the Columbia River Basin)will vary from 20° to 50* F. in the simmerwhile In western Washington^ the fluctuationis front 10" to 30* F. These diurnal airtemperature fluctuations make individualwater temperature readings invalid insofaras the average daily water temperature is

concerned unless this individual reading beadjusted for the relationship between thetemperature reading at that time of day tothe average daily temperature.

The streams studied herein eire all Ineastern Washington with the exception ofthe Columbia River at Bonneville which is

influenced by east-of-the -mountain watertemperatures

.

Tabulated water temperature data that

are available for normal usage give themaximum and minimum daily temperatures orthe temperatures taken at specific timesduring the day, as for example, 8:00 a.m.

and 4:00 p.m., or at midnight, 8:00 a.m.and If-: 00 p.m. What is the relationshipbetween these temperatures and the averagedaily water temperature, or the relation-ship of a temperature value taken at aparticuleo" hour to the average daily watertemperature ?

The diurnal water temperature rangeson a given stream at a given location aredependent upon the following factors:

1. Quantity of flow.

2. Time of year.

3. Dally temperature fluctuationsat location.

U. Dally temperature fluctuationsupstream from location.

5. Upstream impovindments

.

6. Upstream environment, such aspresence of irrigation returnwaters, snow melt, shading frcmtrees and land masses, temperature

of tributary stream and depth ofwater flow.

7. Flow time from critical upstreamconditions to station or locationin question.

Table 11 lists the diurnal watertemperature variations by the month forselected streams where maximum and m1n1m\mi

temperature data were available. Maximumand minimum daily fluctuations for a givenmonth are shown. A study of this tableindicates the following general relation-ships :

1. The smaller the stream, thegreater is the tonperature fluc-tuation.

2. That significant tempeiuturefluctuations are present in thewinter unless the streams arecovered with ice.

3. That diurnal water teaperatvire

fluctuations are greatest whenthere is the greatest differencebetween the mean deaily air tem-perature and water temperature.

k. That the largest daily tempera-ture variations are in August andthe least in December.

Figures 3^* and 35 are plots of typicaldiurnal water temperature fluctuations fordifferent environmental conditions cd streamsof widely varying flow characteristics. Itis evident frcm a study of these figuresthat water temperatures taken at any randomhour of the day may vary widely from the

average dally temperature. It is also evi-dent that no particular hour can be estab-lished for a given stream at which time thewater temperature will be representative ofthe daily average temperature. A discussionof figures 3** and 35 follows.

Chlwawa River : The Chiwawa is a coldriver, flowing 35 miles from the easternCascade Mo\mtain slopes through forestedland to its confluence with the WenatcheeRiver. It has a mean annuAi flow of about460 c.f.s. The upper curve (fi«. 3''') is

typical for the susmter months île the lotf-

er curve is typical for the spring andautumn. There is very little diurnal varia-tion in the winter months. During the sumner,

55

Location

Table 11.—Diurnal temperature variations F.

Typical values prepared fron U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

Chelan County Public Utility District, Puget Sound Power and

Light Company, and Washington Pollution Control Commission records.

Maximum and minimum monthly diurnal temperature differences.

Where maximum value only is given, this is the monthly variation.

January February March April May June

Max. Mln. Max. Min. Max. Min. Max. Mln. Max. Min. Max. Min,

Colxanbla River

Inter" 1 Bdiy.

Elmer City

Bridgeport

Rock Island

Priest Rapids

Pasco

Umatilla

Dalles

Bonneville

Spokane River

Little Falls

Okanogan River

Orovilla

Viienatchee River

Takima River

-- ----102020 2030I1IUO

3

10 2 0202111-- _-----l-10 10101010

-- ---.--101Headvaters

Table 11. - Continued

Loociilon

50

46

42

t 381

1 "

62

58

54

50

01

(0

cd

0)-p

01

X)

0)bOoj

>0)

o

com•H

CO

OoI

I

CM

EH

C Xi•H bj

« C

w 6

P-:JOCO

0) cp. (ti wE0)

-p e

CD "0

3 re-p

•HCO (U

re Q, •

'd ••< e iQ10 (I> bO

0) a; -p -HbD U Ch

re 0)

fe T3

> 0)

<< -p

e• p,P, B^

0)

J- -P

U

(UCO -P

p

.•„ S K

meaa nnrmnl flow of about ^7,000 c.f.s. atClarkston. The river and its tributariesare regulated for power and the irrigationof 2,800,000 acres throughout its IO60 milesof flow. Temperatxire fluctviations of 3.5'

F. are shown in August and 1.^* F. in JUne.

These lower temperature variations are dueto the river's large size, great length,many impoundments and the fact that itreceives a maximum of solar radiation whichbrings its average sunmer water tonperatureto near the average air temperature. Aninteresting feature of these Snedie Riverdiurnal water temperature plots is the "sawtooth" effect at the time of maximum tem-perature. This abrupt maximum temperaturerise to about 7:00 p.m. illustrates theeffect of unhindered solar radiation on theriver immediately above Riparia, Washington.

Columbia River at Bonnevnie : Thedium€LL temperature variation at Bonnevilleis very slight, even in the middle of Augustwhere 0.7° F. is shown on figure 35. Thisvau"iation is slight because of the river'shuge bulk, the dampening effect of theBonneville Reservoir and because the averagewater and air temperatures are near oneanother.

It then compares these true daily averagetemperatures with daily average temperaturesobtained by averaging; maximum and minimumdaily temperatures; 8:00 a.m. and U:00 p.m.temperature; and midnight, 8:00 a.m. and4:00 p.m. temperatures. These data showthat the average of the daily maximum andminimum temperatures are within 0.5* F. ofthe correct average; that the average ofthe 8:00 a.m. and 14^:00 p.m. temperaturescan differ by as much as 2* F. from the cor-rect average and; that the average of themidnight, 8:00 a.m. and lt':00 p.m. tempera-tures will vary by 0.5* F. from the trueaverage.

It is suggested that when theimographrecords are tabulated, that the TngYjimnn andminimum daily temperatures be recorded (as

is usually the case). It is further sug-gested that when daily temperatures arerecorded from reading a theimometer, thatthey be recorded for 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.when the stream has a noimal daily tempera-ture fluctuation (low about 6:00 a.m. andhigh about 6:00 p.m.) and that when thedaily fluctuation is not normal (like on theYakima at Richland) that they be recordedfor 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Columbia River at Rock Island : Adiurnal temperature variation of 1.7* F. is

shown for August. The temperature variationis greater here than at downstream Bonne-ville because the river flow is less,because the Rock Island Reservoir providesless dampening effect than the Bonnevilleand because the average air temperature isconsiderably higher than the average watertemperature

.

Nason Creek : This is a large creek(flow not measured) which flows for about20 miles through reaches shaded by bothtimber and the mountains. It is tributaryto the headwaters of the Wenatchee River.A diurnal water temperature variation of 7'

P. is shown for August. Due to the effectsof shading the maxlmimi temperature occursat 3:00 p.m. rather than in the nonnal lateafternoon or early evening. Minimum dailytemperature is at the usual 6:00 a.m.

Deteimlnatlon of Average DailyWater Temperatures

Table 12 lists the average dedJ-y tem-peratures computed from theimograph recordsfor the streams shown on figures 3^ and 35.

The typical diurnal temperature curvesof figures 3*^ Bsudi 35 can be used to convertany instantaneous temperature readings fora similar stream to the average daily watertemperature.

EFFECT OF EXISTING RESERVOIRS ONDOWNSTREAM WATER TBgERATURES

Impoundments will affect downstreamwater temperatures depending upon:

1. Volume of water Impounded.

2. Average Impounded water depth.

3. Surface area of impoundment.

k. Depth at which water is withdrawn.

5. Climatic conditions - wind andamount of sunlight.

6. Characteristics of upstream watershed.

7. Season of the year.

60

8. Ratio of length to width.

9. Ratio of width to depth as watersurface falls during depletionperiod.

Impoimdments studied were the Yaleand Merwin Reservoirs on the Lewis River,Grand Covilee Equeilizing on the ColumbiaRiver Basin Main Canal, and the Roosevelt,McNary and Bonneville Reservoirs on theColumbia River. Relatively email and shal-low impoundments, like the Bonneville andRock Island Reservoirs, were observed tohave no appreciable effect on downstreamwater temperature.

Table I3 shows the average monthlytemperature changes through the reservoirsfor the months when data had been obtained.

The data from which these temperaturedifferences were obtained were limited,excepting for Lake Roosevelt where dailytemperatures were available from Fish andWildlife Service thermograph records. Othertemperature differences were observed fromone to four times monthly. A discussion ofthis table follows:

Yale: Impoundment comnenced in thisreservoir on August 1, 1952. It is a mediumdepth, average sized reservoir, having alength to width ratio of I3.6. The LewisRiver, flowing into the reservoir, heads upin the glaciers on Mt. Adams and Mt. St.

Helens and flows through timbered country tothe reservoir. For this reason, the riveris relatively cold the year around and thereservoir discharges a water wanaer than theinflow for most of the year. The large

Table 13-—Average monthly temperature change in water frcnupstream to downstream of resemrolrs*

temperature rise in May shows the effect

of the heavy runoff of melting snow waterencountering the warmer reservoir. The

temperature rise in August euid September

illustrates the effect of drawdown on the

reservoir which brings the upper layers of

warmer water into the more restricted area

at lower depths and thus produces a greater

depth of wanner water.

Merwin: Impoundment commenced on May

13, 1931. This reservoir is iimnediately

below the Yale Dam and is somewhat larger,

but shallower, than the Yale Reservoir. It

has a length to width ratio of 23.3 which

will provide less short-circuiting through

the reservoir and more mixing than in the

shorter Yale Reservoir. The single set of

temperature data obtained in May appears to

be In error. In August and September, water

is discharged slightly colder than the res-

ervoir influent. During the other months,

the discharged water is warmer than the

influent

.

Yale -Merwin: Since these reservoirs

are close together, they are considered

herein as a single reservoir. Their com-

bined effect is to continually increase the

Lewis River water temperature from about

one to five degrees fahrenheit. During the

period of low-stream flow in September, the

water temperature increase is about three

degrees fahrenheit.

Grand Coulee Equalizing: This is a

long eind shallow reservoir used to equalize

the flow of pumped water into the Columbia

Basin irrigation system. It has a length

to width ratio of I3.5. Data were available

only for the summer months. The effect of

solar heating on a shallow impoundment is

quite evident. During June and July, tem-

perature increases of over seven degreesfahrenheit were observed. In August and

September, the inflowing water frcm Lake

Roosevelt had warmed sufficiently to reduce

this temperature increase to six and two

degrees respectively.

Roosevelt: This is an exceptionallylong, deep, and large reservoir, having alength to width ratio of I67 which will pro-

vide for some mixing of water in the reser-

voir euad reduce the anount of stratification.Data were available for only the summermonths. In June and July, the re8er\''oir

reduces the Columbia River water tempera-ture by about two degrees. In August, the

water level is feilling in the reservoir and

the warmer upper layers are reaching the

turbine intsikes, producing no appreciabletemperature change between upstream and

downstream. In September, the warmer waterhas reached the turbine intaJtes and the

average effect is to increase the ColumbiaRiver temperature by 3.6" F.

McNary: This is a relatively shallow,run of the river impoundment, having alength to width ratio of 6I. The Snake River

flows into the impoundment 32 miles above

the dam. This is the major tributary of the

Colimibia River and its temperature will

materially affect the reservoir temperature.

In the winter, the Snedce River is colderthan, and in the sunmer it is warmer than,

the Columbia River at Pasco. Since the

reservoir does not always provide completemixing, a slight temperature gradient is

usually noticeable across the reservoir at

McNary Dam.

To evaluate the temperature changethrough this reservoir, it was necessary to

compute the theoretical temperature of themixed flow of the Columbia suid Snake Riversbelow Pasco. This composite temperature was

then taken as the upstream temperature. Re-

ferring to table 13 it Is apparent that the

Impoundment produces a net cooling effect(0.1*" - 1.5° F.) in the winter and springand a warming effect (0.1°- 0.5° F. ) on thelower Columbia in the late summer and fall.

Table ih shows the temperature changesin the reservoirs based on their volume,

depth and area. These data will be used inpredicting future temperature changes in

the Columbia River.

Table 13 shows that temperaturechanges in reservoirs cannot be generalized,such as, they waira the downstream water in

the winter and cool it In the summer. Eachreservoir behaves in accordance with its

own peculiar environment.

Temperature stratification in

reservoirs :

The temperature of the water down-stream frcm an ImpoxindiMnt will vary accord-

ing to the depth frcm which the water is

withdrawn. A study of references (17),

(22), (U2) and (43) plxis University of Wash-

ington observations shows that of the 19reservoirs observed, all but Lake Rooseveltshow markfe'! temperature stratification in

the spring, summer and fall and a lesser

62

Table Ik.—Average monthly temperature changes through reservoirs -

area, volume, depth relationships; frcn table 13*

Mar. May June July Aug. Sept. Nov. Dee.

Yale - Merwin Reservoir

Temperature

80

160

." s

TEMPERATURE OF LAKE MERWIN. 1938-39

PREFftREO FROM DATA IN REFERENCEC221

o LEWIS RIVER TEMP. UPSTREAM FROM RESERVOIR

OF GAUGING STATION ABOVE COUGAR

5 £

WATER TEMPERATURE -

10 12

FIG. 36

FIG. 37

6I4

- 54

FEB. MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE DEC.

FIG. 38

Water temperatiires for Late Rooseveltin the year 1951 are shown in figure 38-

The Columbia River flow during 1951 was thesecond highest flow on record for the Inter-national Boundary gaging station. Eventhough this high flow would provide extra-ordinary flushing action, the temperaturegradients shown in figure 38 are similar tothose in reference (M^) and to data obtainedby the University. A maximum temperaturegradient of 4.5° C. is shown for Augustwith half of this temperature change occur-ring in the upper 50 feet. Other than in

the summer, the temperature change fromsurface to bottcm is very slight.

Minlmvmi temperatures were in Marchwhen the deepest water was the wannest,this deep water being nearest to the tem-perature of maximum density {k' C). Maxi-mum surface temperatures were near the firstof September while the maximum temperaturefor water withdrawal through the turbines(at 260 ft. depth) was in the first part ofOctober when the reservoir was drawn down.Isothennal conditions are shown at the end

of January, May and October, when overturnsare possible. These isothennal conditionseire a function of both atmospheric tempera-ture changes and river inflow.

Effect of Grand Coulee Dam on ColumbiaRiver Temperatures at Rock Island :

Water temperatures at Rock Island Damhave been kept by the Puget Sound Power andLight Company since 1933* These tempera-tures were used for pre and post GrandCoulee Dam construction comparisons. Asthe water temperature is a function of airtemperature and flow rate in a given stream,a five-year period (193^-3^) prior to con-struction of Grand Coulee Dam and a five-year period after construction (19'*6-50)

were chosen when the air tonperatures andflow were similar. Figure 39 shows a com-parison of these air temperatures and flowfor the two fire year periods. Air tempera-ture were taken for Nespelom, Waishington as

this was the weather station that would moatclosely approximate upstream weather condi>tlons. A close agreement is shown for the

5^

AVERACE MOMTHJf FLOW OF COLUMBIA RIVER AT

TRINIDAD FOR FIVE TEAR PERIODS

AVERAGE MONTHLY AIR TEMPERATURE , NESPELEM .

FOR FIVE YEAR PERIODS

AIR TEMPERATURE AND RjOW COMfORISONS BEFORE ANDAFTER CONSTFIUCTION OF GRAND COULEE DAM

420

+16

+12

1

e

<1 +<

S

i

-a

of one to three degrees fahrenhelt In thesuBBer and a wanning effect of up to eightdegrees In the winter.

A simpler approach to the temperaturecoiQ>arlson is to assume that the flow €uad

air temperatures during the period 1934-38and 1946-50 &re similar. With this assump-tion, the average monthly water tempera-tures at Rock Island can be compared byobtaining the five year monthly averagesand plotting. This has been done in figurekl which Indicates a warning effect frcmGrand Coulee Dam construction of aboutseven degree fahrenhelt maximum in the win-ter and a cooling effect of about threedegrees nmYiminn In the svmmer.

An evsLLuation of future temperaturechanges that may take place in the ColumbiaRiver as a result of dam construction is

contained in a later chapter of this report.

In ccaparing upstream and downstreamwater temperatures at a particular reser-voir, it must be kept In mind that theriver water temperatures, in the absence ofa reservoir, would tend to Increase in thesame stretch during the sumner and perhapsdecrease during the winter.

WATER QUALITY C(»<PARISONS1910-11 TO 1952-56

Selected Stations - Columbia and

Tributary Rivers

In 1910, 1911 and I912, Walton VanWinkle of the U. S. Geological Survey con-ducted the first systematic study of sea-sonal surface water quality characteristicsin the States of Oregon and Washington. Hiswork is published in U.S.G.S., W.S.P. 339and 363 (49). At each selected samplingstation, daily samples of water were col-lected and mailed to a laboratory where 10consecutive samples were iinited. The ana-lysis was made froa this composite. Analy-tical and sample collection methods used bythe U. S. Geological Survey today are com-parable to those used by Van Winkle except-ing that samples are now composited byvolume according to their specific conduct-ance.

Between the time of V€Ui Winkle's workand 1949, practically no water quality datawere obtained in the Columbia River Basin

excepting for a few studies In limited £ireeus

like the Willamette Valley, Yakima Valley,and a section of the lower Columbia River.Since the purpose of this section is to noteany significant changes in river water qua-Ity that have occurred since m£in ccssmenced

his multipurpose water uses, comparisons canbe made only between Van Winkle's data andthat obtained by the U. S. Geological Surveyand the University of Washington in veryrecent years. A close, direct ccjmparison

cannot be made between these sets of datasince there is some difference in samplingand analytical technique; some differencesin sampling points and time of day and fre-quency of sampling; differences in the timeof sample storage before analysis; and be-cause the stream flows were not the same inthe two time periods under comparieon.Figure 42 illustrates the change in waterquality at a particuleo" iKJint during thecourse of a year's sampling with changingrates of river discharge. It will be notedthat in general, the constituents are high-est during low discharge and lowest duringperiods of high stream discharge. Curvesfor other locations (figs. IO-I9, reference50) will show less or more marked changeswith a change in flow. These quality changes

COMPARISON OF FLOW RATE AND WATER QUALITYCOLUMBIA RIVER o» MARTMILL. 1952- 1953U S G S DATA

UC 5E. QCl lOV OEC

FIG. 42

b7

are evened out or are delayed when there is

a large upstream Impoundment. Color andturbidity may be greatest during periods ofhigh dischaz^. Their compeirlson by weightedaverages is questionable.

In the Columbia River Basin, VanWinkle's data are compared with contempo-rary data in tables 15 to 23 and figuresU3 to 59 for the following locations:

Columbia River at Northport (Inter-national Boundary)

Columbia River at Pasco

Colxmibia River at Cascade Lock andMaryhill

Wenatchee River at Cashmere

Snake River at Burbank, CentralFerry, and Clarkston

Yakima River at Cle ELum

Yakima River at Prosser and Kiona

Deschutes River at Moody

Okanogan River at Okanogan and nearthe mouth

These tables and figures show the actualobserved constituents. To properly evaluatethe change in constituents, the reader mustalso compare the difference in stream dis-charge for that month (a higher dischargeresults in more dilution of constituents )

.

Table 2k is a ccmpilation of theyeeurly weighted averages for seven of thesestations. Average monthly values areweighted according to flow by multiplyingthe average monthly flow by the averagemonthly constituent, summing them for theyear, and dividing the sum by the total ofthe monthly flows. Table 25 shows theapproximate changes in population, Indus-try, and irrigated acreage from I9IO to1950 and table 26 gives the changes inriver constituents on a tonnage beisis.

These tables and figures sa« describedbelow:

Colimbla River at Northport (Inter-

national Boundary), Figures ^3 and kh ,

Table 15 :

The Columbia River and tributariesabove the International Boundary passthrough a series of large lakes or impound-ments. These impoundments tend to even outthe river flow and the change In water

quality that cosaes with changes in riverflow, 5,039,000 acre-feet of impounded waterhave been Eidded to this stream section since1910. Decreases in dissolved constituentswill be reflected in downstream stationsthree months past the period of high runoff(figs. 10 and 11, reference 50) wherejis in

a stream without impoundments, these changeswill be observed coincidental with the changein flow. Between I910 and 195Ci there was ah6 percent increase in watershed population,a 32 percent increase in irrigated acreageand an industrial waste addition to the rlAier

equivalent to an estimated population of513^000 persons on an oxygen demand basis.The average river discharge during these twoperiods of ccmparison differed by only kpercent.

Figures k^ and hh show an increase inall constituents excepting for sodium pluspotassiimi and silica. An increase in allmineral constituents could be expected be-cause of an increase in waste discharge tothe river, denudation of forest cover frcmlogging and because of an increase in irri-gation. Between I9IO and 1952, the riverconstituents increased by the following per-centages: Alkalinity - 5; hardness - 1^;dissolved solids - 6; sulfate - 19; calciumplus magnesium - Ik; chloride - 125; andnitrates - 220. Iron showed no change whilesodium plus poteisslum decreased ^1 percentand silica 20 percent. The 300 percent in-crease in nitrates and 200 percent in chlo-rides can be expected from the Increaseddischarge of organic matter and municipalwastes to the river. No plausible explana-tion can be advanced as to why silica andsodium plus potassium did not also Increaseduring this period of time.

Columbia River at Paaco ,

Figures k'y and kb, Table I6 ;

The data shown herein for 19514-56

were collected by the University and do notrepresent as accurate a representation ofthe water constituents as do those collectedby the U. S. Geological Survey since samplecollection was less frequent. There are noflow data for the I910 sampling period.Since these two sets of data are not direct-ly comparable, they can be examined only in

a very general sense. Sodium plus potassiumvalxies have shown an apparent decrease (as

at Northport) and calcium plus magnesium andsxilfates have shown little change. The

68

SILICA

COLUMBIA RIVER at NORTHPORT, 1910- 1911 esssaai

II II II II 1951 - 1952 I 1

SULFATE (504) DISSOLVED SOLIDSTOTAL HARDNESS TOTAL ALKALINITY

NITRATES (NOi)

FIG. 43

COLUMBIA RIVER at NORTHPORT, 19 10- 191 1 =II II II II 1951-1952 E

IRON (Fe) CHLORIDESCcn No+K Ca 4. Mg

FIG. 44

69

Table 15.—^".-.'ater quality conporison.

Colunbla Hiver at Northport, 191C-11 (U.S.G.S.)

In ?.?.•:.

Jan F9b. H»r. April May June July Aug. 3epit. Pet. Not. Dee,

TlBBS Sampled^

COLUMBIA RIVER AT PASCO, I9I0-I9II

M II II . 1954-1956

TURBIDITY SULFATE (SO^) TOTAL SOLIDS TOTAL HARDNESS TOTAL ALKALINITY

^»g KSS¥â

s-^mB ssaa

SH E9_

msB ntm^

FIG. 45

COLUMBIA RIVER AT PASCO, 1910" 1911II II II II 1954-1956

IRON (Fe) No 4. K Co 4- Mg COLOR

5"

COLUMBIA RIVER AT CASCADE LOCKS I9II-I9I2

•• MARYHILL FERRY 1952-1953

other coastltuents have shown an increase.Twelve million acre-feet of Impounded waterhave been added to the Columbia River auiIts tributaries above Pasco since I9IO.

Columbia River at Maryhill andCascade Locks , Figures k^ and "^JB

,

Table 1? :

The 1910-11 data were obtained atCascade Locks ^ 60 miles downstream frcmMaryhill, location of the 1952-53 sampling8tati(»i. Between these two sampling sta-tions, the Deschutes, Hood, Klickitat,White Salmon, and Wind Rivers are tributaryto the Columbia River. The combined flowfrcn these tributaries is about 6 percentof the Colimibla River flow. Since this is

a small percentage, the water quality ofthe Columbia River at Maryhill will notdiffer significantly from that at CascadeLocks. These tributaries carry less dis-solved material thsui does the ColumbiaRiver at this location.

The mean river discharge in the twoperiods under comparison differed by lessthan 4,000 c.f.s. All constituents in-

creased excepting for silica and iron,

niese may have shown a decrease in the k2-

year period because of the precipitationof collodlal silica and iron in the up-stream reservoirs constructed subsequentlyto 1910. Seme of the silica may have beentaken up In the cells of diatoms whoseabundance has been increased with the con-

struction of reservoirs. Seventeen mm ionfive hundred thouseuid acre-feet of im^pounded

water have been added to the Columbia Riverabove The Dalles since I910.

Between the periods under comparison,the upstream irrigated acreage increased by76 percent, the upstream watershed popula-tion by 6k percent and an industrial wastepopulation equivalent of 1,813,000 personswas added. This increase in waste additionand irrigation return flows resulted in thefollowing percentage increase in constitu-ents (based on yearly weighted averages,table 2k): Alkalinity - 52; hardness - kO;

dissolved solids - 32; sulfate - 70; calciumplus magnesium - 33; sodium plus potassium38; color - k^; chlorides - 52; and nitrate- 80. Silica showed a 23 percent and Irona 50 percent decrease in the same 42-year

Table 17.—Water quality comparison.

Columbia River at Cascade Locks (60 miles below Karytill), 1911-12.

In P.P.!?.

Jan. Feb. Mar. April May Jung July Atig. S«pt. Oct. Hot. Deo.

Tines Sampled 2333333 3Flow X 1,000 c.f.s. 81 110 82 l8l 372 522 305Total Alk. 63 51 61 US 39 Ui 51Total HardiMss 67 S3 60 SO U? U7 55Dissolved Sollda no 110 113 98 78 72 79Sulfate (SOj,) Ui 10 13 10 8 9 IDSilica 16 20 20 19 12 12 10Iron O.Oli 0.0k 0.05 0<,2li 0.11 0.10 0.06C« + Kg 23.9 18.U 21.3 17.9 17.6 17.U 20j»H« • 3A K 11.0 9.0 12.0 9oU 7.5 5.8 6.6Chlorld. (C1-) li.6 3.6 6.0 3.5 2.2 1.5 1.5Nitrate (HO3-) 0.35 0.56 0.55 O.I18 0.26 0.29 0.26Color 9 3U ID 27 13 10 5

U18061599112110.0l»

21.6

9.71.90.5910

3129597192

1310Ojj

2U.36.82.0O.I1S

385

61i

71105

13lit

0.012U.710.03.60.501

37866

73lUlU120.02

25.69.5U.70.811

3706b6811115li.

O.CQ.

23.89.8I1.I

0.S72

Golmnbia River at Maryhill Ferrj' (60 miles above Cascade Lock)

19?2-S3 (U.S.G.S.)

Tines SanpledlPlow X 1,000 c.f .aTotal AUt.Total HardnessDissolved SolidsSulfate (SOi,-)

SlllqaIron^Ca MbHa 3A KChloride (CI")Mltrate (NO--)Color3

2

SNAKE RIVER at BURBANK 1910 -1911 —««.

.. CENTRAL FERRY 1955-1956 i 1

SULFATE DISSOLVED SOLIDS TOTAL HARDNESS TOTAL ALKALINITY FLOW x 1,000 C.FS.

FIG. 49

SNAKE RIVER at BURBANK 1910- 1911 r'

- r i

" CENTRAL FERRY, 1955-1956 '

^

period. As shown in figxires ^4^7 and '*8>

these constituent Increases or decreasesshow no monthly correlation with changesIn stream discharge or with the period ofIrrigation and return flows. This lack ofcorrelation can be attributed to the com-plexity of water quality variables upstreamfrom Maryhlll.

Snake River, Figures k9 and 50 »

Table l6 :

The U.S.G.S. water quality data werecollected at Burbank near the Snake Rivermouth for the I91O-II period. From I951to 1955, the U.S.G.S. collected water qual-ity data from the Snake River near Clark-ston. In October of 1955 > this stationwas moved downstream to Central Ferrybecause the Clearwater River, tributary atClarkston, was not thoroughly mixed in theSnake at the sampling station below Clark-ston. The data in table I8 is for boththe Clarkston and Central Ferry stationsas Indicated in the footnote. CentralFerry is 8k miles and Clarkston l40 milesupstream from Burbank. Water qualityvalues at these stations are comparable

since there are no Intervening cities orindustries and the Intervening tributaries(Palouse and Tucaonon Rivers) have a com-bined flow of only 1 percent of that in the

Snake River.

Between I9IO and 1950, the Snake Riverwatershed impoundment behind dams increasedby U,075,000 acre-feet, the population in-

creased by 77 percent, irrigated acreage 79percent and industrial wastes comparable toa population of 768,000 persons on an oxygenbasis was added to the watershed. The SnakeRiver flow in the I9IO-II period was 31 per-cent higher than in the recent period undercomparison. This diluting effect of higherflows will be compensated for by making theccoQjarison on the basis of weighted averages(table 2k).

All constituents, excepting for color,were higher in the 1952-56 analyses than inthe 1910-11. The most noticeable increaseswere in the suomer and autumn irtien the irri-gation return flows were greatest. Based onthe yearly weighted averages, the percentageincrease in constituents were as follows:Alkalinity - 6O; hardness - 70; dissolved

Table 18.—Vâter quality comparisons.

Snake River at Burbank, 1910-11 (U.S.G.C.)

In P. P.M.

J»n. r»b. M»r. April Mu jima Jqly lag. 3«pt. 0«t. Her. D50.

Tlaet SanplMl'i'

rioir X 1,000Tot«l Alk.'SvHItUColsrT«rtldltyC« Kgb * ISlsi. SoUdaTotal SoUdaIron Cfe)Total Hardnasa'Stile*Htnta (103Ctalerld*^??j:i

b

solids - ^k; sulfate - 65j calcium plusoagoeslua - 69; sodium plus potassium - 89;silica - 21; color - (-) 55; nitrate - 36O;chloride - 82; and Iron - 29.

Okanogan River at Okanogan and nearmouth, Figure 51. Table 19 :

The 1910-11 U.S.O.S. data were col-lected at Okanogan, 25 miles above themouth where the 195^^-55 data were obtainedby the University. U.S.G.S. data have notbeen collected fron the Okanogan River Insxifflclent quantity to be used In theseccmparlsons. The University data used wasnot collected as frequently as the I9IO-IIdata and, therefore, the comparison mustbe very general. There are no significanttrlbutaurles betvreen Okanogan and the rivermouth. The Okanogan River was not gaugedin 1910-11. Three hundred and twenty-fivethousand acre -feet of storage were addedto Lake Okanogan In 1915*

Irrigated acreage has increased 175percent, population 230 percent, and anIndustrial waste population equivalent of15,000 persons has been added to the water-

shed during the kO-yeaT comparison period.While these percentages are high, the totalpopulation and irrigated area are not rela-tively large for a river basin with a meandischarge of 2,800 c.f .s. From figure 51and table 19, & general increase in valuesduring the UO-year period can be noted withthe exception of turbidity and sodium pluspotassium.

Wenatchee River, Figures 52 and 53 ,

Table 20 :

In I9IO-II, the Wenatchee River wassampled at Cashmere by the U.S.G.S. and in1954-56 at Sleepy Hollow by the University.Sleepy Hollow is 5 miles downstream fromCashmere suid there axe no intervening tri-butaries of any consequence. Ibilversltydata, although limited in frequency ofsampling, is used for the later period asinsufficient U.S.G.S. data are available.

The Wenatchee River watershed with amean nnnitaT flow of 2,900 c.f.s. has thesmallest irrigated acreage and population(with no significant Industrial waste con-tribution) of any of the streams under

OKANOGAN RIVER AT OKANOGAN I9I0-I9II -1^"OKANOGAN RIVER AT MOUTH 1954-1955 ^ ^

TURBIDITY SULFATE (SO^ TOTAL SOLIDS TOTAL HARDNESS TOTAL ALKALITY

*-

Table 19.—Water quality coFrparlson

Okanogan River at Okanogan (2$ miles above mouth)

1910-11 (U.S.G.S.)

WENATCHEE RIVER at CASHMERE 1910 -1911 t-^r,-'-^;

n II II SLEEPY HOLLOW, 1954- 1956i=iSULFATE (SQ;) TOTAL SOLIDS TOTAL HARDNESS TOTAL ALKALINITY

compariBon. From 1910-1950, the populationincreased from 6,200 to 12,000 and the irri-

gated acreage from 19,000 to 26,000 acres.

These ""'^n increases together with loggingconstitute the only changes in the water-

shed during this 40-year period. It is

then to be anticipated that the water qual-

ity in 1910 would be about the same as in

1955. From table 2k of weighted averages

and figures 52 and 53, a wnan increase in

ftiT constituents other than sulfates is

noted. On a percentage basis, thejncreases

were: Alkalinity - 2k} hardness - 22; total

solids - 16; calcium plus magnesium - 11;

sodium plus potassium - 3; color - 6O; tur-

bidity - 21; and iron - UOO. Sulfates

decreased 71 percent. The Increase in color

may be due largely to fruit tree leaves and

the replacement of coniferous trees withdeciduous following logging. The increase

in iron is to be questioned as the iron

data for 195^-56 is meager. Irrigationdevelopments were reaching their maximumaround I910 on the Henatchee River. A lapld

leeching of sulfate -bearing salts into the

river at this time may account for the sub-sequent decrease in sulfates.

Yakima River at Cle Blum ,

Figures 5^^ and 55, Tablea ;

The Yakima River at Cle ELum offers

an interesting ccmpao-ison in water qualitywith the passage of time. Watershed popu-

lation has decreased slightly because of

the decline in coal mining around Roslyn.

Increased storage for Irrigation in Lake

Keechelus, Cle Elum and Kachess has leoêly

taken place since I910. Logging on the

watershed has increased since I9IO.

All water quality constituents have

decreased slightly excepting for alkalin-ity, iron and nitrates. This decrease maybe attributed to a reduction in coal-wash-

ing wastes and the 829,000 acre -feet of

Impoundment created since I9IO. The per-

centage decrease was as follows: Hardness- 16; dissolved solids - 17; sulfate - 76;

calcium plus magnesium - 13; sodium plus

potassium - 19; chlorides - 27; and silica- 26. Alkalinity increased k, iron 50and nitrate 88 percent. The increase in

nitrate is probably due to organic decompo-sition in the Impoundments. An increase

Table 21.—^Water quality conparison.

TaMma River at Cle Elum, 1910-11 (U.S.G.S.)

In P. P.M.

riau X 1,000.ToUl Alk/''Sulfat«ColorDla'l. SolldaKa XC« t KgIron (Fo) ,

,

Total Hardnsss^-'^

SllleaChlorldoo (CI")aitrate (IIO3-}

J«n« Feb. JtaTt April Ihar iva» July Aog» JSEi. Ooto MoT« Doe.

ll

0.9

256.7

lib

3.110.1I296.3

0.U

31.1

308.5

56

8.80.1526111

0.50,03

33.0

IB8.33

523.39.10.032812

1.00.28

35.7

226.6

3U93.98.00.0126111.50.1

35.3

255.62

U5U.U8.00.01

23U1.6t

32.5

26

5.U

62

U.38.00.0123111

2.Ut

31.1

26

U.5

U95.08.00.0123102.6T

31.0

31U.3

I16

lu610.2T30

1

30.5

336.9

U93.3

11.00.0133101-5

3i.i»

2li

6.1

ui3.98.20.012U7.7

2-10.^3

3lt.2

20U.o

392.67.70.02

227.7

a

31.6

22

8.5

UO2.78.6T257.1*

1.0T

Tines Soplad^^'ri0w X 1,000 .

Total ilk. ''''

Total Bardnss^^}Dla'l. SoUdaCa « K(la KStilfato

Iron (To)SiUoaChlorides (C1-)

Bltrate (HD3-)

Color

Yakiina River at Cle Elum, 1952-53 (U.S.G.S.)

30.61

30

S10.13.1.

2.0O.Olj

9.81.30.6

5

11.07

30

21I

140

8.U3.02.0O.Olt

9.91.2

0.7U

30.

3129U7ID.

3.

2.

0.

9.

1.

0.!

5

5831.31

26

th388.5

3.31-80.028.51.0O.lt

7

30.71

30281.5

9.53.21.90.03

10.71.1

o.k

32.87

25

23

358.13.23.2o.ot.

7.61.00.1.

5

6032

2525338.31.92.20.037.01.1O.U6

32.76

2327

339.01.51.90.037.01.70.6

9

31.96

2325338.31.72.00.026,91.00.6

7

0.62 0.11 0.13

1) Each sample roprssants composite of IC or nore dally sainplss.

I!

As p.p.B/^ CaCOiCcnputed from Ca « Kg as CaCOi.

79

SULFATE

YAKIMA RIVER at CLE ELUM 1910" 1911 i^^-':^

1952-1953 I 1

DISSOLVED SOLIDS TOTAL HARDNESS TOTAL ALKALINITY FLOW x 1,000 CFS.

o

In Iron may be the result of anaerobicdecomposition at the resrrvolr bottom vltbthe resulting increase in Iron solutlbllity

Yaklaa River at Prosser and Klona ,

Figures ^6 and ^7, Table 22l

The U. S. Geological Survey waterquality samples collected in I9IO-II weretaken frcm the Yakima River at Prosserwhile those collected in 1953-5^ were atKiona, I6 miles downstream from Prosser.There are no tributaries of any signifi-cance between these stations. During theirrigation season, return flows from theRoza project enter the river between thesestations

.

Between I9IO and 19^0, the wai^rshedpopulation increased by 12U percent, theirrigated acreage by I3I percent and anindustrial waste population equivalent of138,C)00 persons was euided to the river.River flow was regulated for irrigationpurposes by the construction of the Keeche-lus, Kachess, Cle Klum, Bumping, and TletonReservoirs, Impounding a total of l,06l4-,000

acre-feet.

On comparing the I9IO and 19^^*^ qual-

ity data, it will be observed that allconstituents have increased diuring the 43year period excepting for sulfate, colorand iron which have decreased. The larg-est increases occiirred in the late sunnerand autumn when irrigation return flowswere greatest. Nitrates and alkalinityshowed an Increase for all months.

Ccmparlng quality values in the twotime periods and using weighted averagesto compensate for the heavier flow in I9IO-11, the percentage increase in the con-stituent was as follows: Alkalinity - 55;hardness - 3^; silica - 28; dissolvedsolids - 27; calcium plus magnesixjm - 38;sodiiim plus potassium - k3} chlorides - 52;and nitrate - 6hO. SvLLfate decreased 23percent and iron 700 percent. The effectof irrigation on water quality is discussedin a subsequent chapter of this report.

Deschutes River at Moody ,

Figures 58 and 59, Table 23 ;

The Deschutes River has been control-led for power and irrigation development by

Table 22.—^Water quality comparison.

Takima Riirer at Prosser, 1910-11 (U.S.G.3.)

In P. P.M.

Jan. Feb. Mar. J\me July Sept. Oct. Not. Dec.

Times Sampled^lJ

SULFATE

YAKIMA RIVER at PROSSERYAKIMA RIVER at KIONA

1910- 1911

1953-1954DISSOLVED SOLIDS TOTAL HARDINESS TOTAL ALKALINITY FLOW i 1,000 C.FS.

SULFATE

DESCHUTES RIVER at MOODY 1910 -1911 '""'

- ^^*

DESCHUTES RIVER of MOODY 1952-1953 ''

DISSOLVED SOLIDS TOTAL HARDNESS TOTAL ALKALINITY FLOW x 1.000 C.ES.

Flow X l.OCOTotal Alk.(2)

SulfateColorI)l»'l. SoUdBNa KC« MgIron (F.)

Tot«l Hartlne38^3;

SlUcaChlorides (CI*)Hltrata (HO3-)

Table 23*—^V/ater quality comparison.

Denchut5s River near Moody, 1910-11 (U.S.G.S.)

In P.P.'-l.

Juu Feb, Har. April Mmt Jan» July Aug. Sept. Oct. Mot. Dec.

3

Tabla ZS'—Apprmdmate Changes In Upstrean Watershed Population,

IwluBtry »«J Irrigated Area, 1910 to 1950| x 10^

the Impoundiaent of 377,000 acre -feet In k

reservoirs built after I910. Between I9IOand 1950, the population in the DeschutesRiver watershed increased by 120 percent,the irrigated acreage by 9^ percent andthere was no significant industrial wastecontribution. All water quality consti-tuents increased during this time with the

exception of sulfates, sodium plus potas-sium and nitrates. There was no change

in the iron content. October, Novemberan<^ December data were not collected in

1952-53. If these data had been collected,it is possible that all constituents withthe exception of sulfate would have shownan increase. Percentage increases were asfollows: Alkalinity - 19; hardness - 27;dissolved solids - 2; csilcium plus magne-sium - 21; silica - 7; and chlorides - 24.

Sodium plus potassium had a k percentdecrease, nitrate 11 percent and sulfate36 percent.

Nitrates and sodium plus xx^tassium

should have increased during the k'i yearperiod in a river basin like the Deschutes.The only explanation that can be advancedfor their decrease is that the comparisonperiod did not extend over a full wateryear.

Summary :

A compeurison of the water qualitydata in I9IO-II with that In 1952-56 givesa general rise in all constituents. TheIncrease in all watersheds is not the samebecause of a difference in waste discharge,water Impoundment, irrigated acreage orbecause the soil composition differs. Thedecrease in some values is not consistentand not easily explained in most instances.Irrigation return flows have caused thegreatest increase in water quality values.These return flows can normal 1 y be expectedto show an increase in all constituentsover that in the water first applied tothe land. Domestic sewage and industrialwaste discharges will increase all consti-tuents (unless the water supply is of muchhigher quality than that in the adjacentstream), pajrtlculeo-ly so in the case ofnitrates and chlorides. Water impoundmentswill tend to even out water quality changes,increasing the values during periods ofhigh flow and reducing them during periodsof low flow.

The decrease in constituents may becaused by one of the following reasons in

cases where there has been no reduction in

watershed pollutants:

1. Precipitation of Iron, silica,sulfates, etc. in reservoirs orirrigated lands constructed since1910.

2. Rapid leeching of constituents inthe new irrigation developmentsoccurring eiround I910. Propor-tionately speaking, very littleacreage was placed under irriga-tion Just prior to the I952-56period of data collection. Thelarge scale Columbia Basin devel-opment is contributing littlereturn flow as the groxmd watertable has not risen sufficiently.

3. UpteJje of silica by diatoms livingin the new reservoir impoundments.These diatoms are either carrieddownstream or settle to the reser-voir bottom where they are coveredby silt.

h. Analytical technique differences.

5. Incomplete yearly data for con-peodson.

6. Increased river flow between I9IOand 1950.

Alkalinity increased at all locationsunder comparison with the largest percentageincrease being on the Columbia River atMaryhlll, the Yakima River at Kiona and inthe Snake River. Hardness increased at alllocations excepting for the Yakima River atCle Elum. The greatest percentage increasein hardness was in the Snake River, theColumbia River at Maryhlll, and the YakimaRiver at Klona. Dissolved solids, calciumplus magnesium, chlorides and nitratesincreased at all but one station with thegreatest increases occurring at the samestation €is above.

In no case did the water quality con-stituent Increase to the point that thewater wets nearing the upper limit foracceptability as a source of public or in-

dustrial water supply, source of irrigationwater or for the propagation of fish life.

A subsequent chapter in this report dis-cusses the probable changes in water qual-ity that may occur with future river basindevelofment.

86

YAKIMA RIVER IRRIGATION AMDPOLLUTIONAL EFFECTS

The Yakima River is the most highlydeveloped and most highly utilized watersource in the Columbia River Basin. Itswaters Irrigate 425,000 acres and receivethe treated waste discharges frcm some76,000 persons and from industries (mostlylate summer food processing) having anoxygen demand population equivalent of138,000 persons. Table 27 lists the prin-cipal irrigation projects (see map of area)and diverted irrigation water for the irri-

gation year of 195'*« The average divertedwater per acre was k.kQ acre-feet for theseason. If this quantity of water wereapplied uniformly to the 425,000 acresirrigated in the valley, an average totalriver flow of 5,820 c.f.s. would be requiredto supply this diversion.

In the peak irrigation months of

Jxily and August, an average of O.92I acre-feet per acre per month of water was

applied to the land which would require atotal river flow of 6,580 c.f.s. Consider-ing JMly and August of 195** to be averageIrrigation months tind with a total average

Yakima River available flow of 5,100 c.f.s.

in July and August, it Is apparent that

the water diverted for irrigation exceedsthe river flow by about 1,400 c.f.s. Thisextra water used ccmes frcm irrigationreturn flows upstream fron the point ofdiversion. Thus, the entire river flow is

utilized for irrigation with seme of thewater being passed over the land more thanonce.

During the late summer, there aretimes when nearly the entire river flowis diverted near Parker (between Mapato

YAKIMA RIVER BASIN

AREA MAPf.«r. I. Mil..

-!—I—n—

k

FIG. 60

87

Table 27.—Takima River Basin irrigation-'-

Meath

and Union Gap) yet at Kiona, about 70 milesdownstream, tbe river flow (with no natunuLtributaries at this time of year) will bearound 2,000 c.f.s. This 2,000 c.f.s. Is

made up almost entirely of Irrigation re-turn flows. These return flows continueinto the river bed frcm ground water deple-tion after the irrigation season has endedin September. Table 28 lists the 19^9-53average river flows at ftirker and Kionatogether with their difference and the avBi>

age monthly precipitation at Prosser. Sincethis is an arid area (average yearly preci-pitation at Prosser is 7 '5^ inches), thedifference in flow between Parker and Kionais made up largely of irrigation returnflows.

Figure 6l is a plot of these flowdifferences and the average monthly preci-pitation. Irrigation return flows continuethrough March and Increase abruptly withthe ccnmencement of the irrigation seasonin April. Maximum return flows 6a^^ in Maywhen irrigation diversions axe ^gb, airtemperatures relatively low and consumptiveuse is low. Return flows drop to around

1,300 c.f.s. in July and August whan airtemperatures are high and consumptive use

Is greatest.

From the table of water quality com-parisons in 1953-54 for the Yaiima Riverat Kiona (table 22) , it will be noted thatthe time of highest water quality (lowest

mineral constitiients ) Is in April, aboutthe time when irrigation coonences. Theaverage monthly flow at Kiona in April is

about the same as for the preceding monthsof January, February and Mca*ch and is lessthan that in the succeeding mcxiths of May,June and July. (Water quality constituentsare usually inversely proportional to theflow. ) If it would be assumed that thewater quality constituents in April arerepresentative of those that would be pre-sent in the absence of large return flowsand summertime food processing, a compari-son can be made between these April valuesand the high constituent values in Septem-ber.

Table 29 shows the comparison of theApril and September 1953-5^ constituent

1.000

OEC JAN FEB. MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP

MONTH

1.0

Table 29.—Comp

effect to the water quality. Listed are

Uo6 food industries (canneries with process-ing plants, breweries and meat products),

19 pulp or pulp and paper mills, 25 lumberproducts (waste wood, glue, etc.)> 7 primarymetal (chemical wastes from processing), &kchemical and mining (ore processing andrecovery), 17 textile (wood and flax), 5

fabricated metal (metal treating wastes),6 petroleum and coal processing (chemical

and orgEuaic wastes ) , and 25 miscellaneousindiistries such as rendering works and aimao-

nia plants. Table 3'^' shows these industrieswith organic wastes to have an estimatedpopulation equivalent (based on the bio-chemical oxygen demand ) of over 9 millionpersons or over 6 times that of the seweredpopulation. Altogether, there is at presentan oxygen demand on the river system ccm-

parable to domestic sewage discharged fromabout U million persons. Fran the indus-trial waste standpoint, the pulp and papermills are by far the most significant con-tributors .

An analysis of water quality datashows that these pollutants have had noserious overall effect on the water qusdityof the Columbia River itself. Pulp milldischarges have produced heavy Sphaerotilussp., (a filamentous bacteria, producingmasses of slimy floe -like material) growthsbelow Camas that clog the nets of fishermen.This study did not include localized effectson water quality in the Immediate vicinityof waste discharges. A few of the ColumbiaRiver tributeuries have dissolved oxygendeficiencies. This is in the late summerwhen stream flows are low, water tempera-tures are high, biological life is flourish-ing and when organic pollutants are nearmaximum. The most significant of theseobserved was the Willamette River in thevicinity of Portland where dissolved oxygenconcentrations of less than 3 p. p.m. wereobserved in late August. No other seriousdissolved oxygen deficiencies were observedin any of the streams.

Future conditions :

The prediction of future changes in

the Columbia River Basin is, of course,subject to many variables and to a very wideinterpretation of the effects of thesevEuriables. General etssumptionsmade in pre-dicting these future conditions are asfollows

:

1. That the major multipurpose waterdevelopments on the river systemwill have been well consimiated bythe year 2000.

2. That the basin population willcontinue to grow in proportion to

the remainder of the Pswiific North-west.

3. That the industrial develojmentof the beisin will continue withmore rigid controls on waste dis-

charges than in the past and that

many industries presently dis-charging strong wastes will havethese WEiste strengths and volumesgreatly reduced.

k. That no dams will be built on the

Columbia River below BonnevilleDam.

5. That the principal aie&B of indus-trial concentration will be in the

Portland-Vancouver-Longview andPasco-Richland-Kennewick vicini-ties with a somewhat lower concen-tz^tion in the Wenatchee andCanadian portions of the ColumbiaRiver. The prlncipatl tributarieswith industrial developments Jointhe Columbia River in these areas.They are the Willamette, Snake andYakima Rivers. The Spokane Riverwill have its Industrial anddomestic waste loads minimized byits 75 miles flow to the GrandCoulee Reservoir itself.

6. That water pollution controlauthorities will prevent the dis-charge of any toxic, highly alka-line or highly acidic wastes tothe streams.

7- That sewage treatment plants dis-charging to the beusin streams willbe providing an average biochemi-cal oxygen demand reduction of 65^.

8. That all domestic sewage dichargedin the basin will receive eitherprimary or secondary treatmentwith the majority being secondary(a more ccmplete treatment thanprlmarj^.

91

Table 30.—Population data^

Col\i»bla RlTgr Basin

Stat« iaProTlnce 1920 1930 MbO

55,ooo''' 75,aoo'"

1950

British Col.Mont«nsIdahoWaahlnônOregon

100,517iiiS,62e

217,3163ii8,10li

•ly. Dtah,lll«». 1,972

lljO.OBO

302,695U5L.51i7

568,6U9,369

85,731ilS6,li76

U03,ie6501,529663,299

6,190

103,5U<156,993la7,667

553.809778,67li

6,300

121,216172,519197,139635,673882,9U

9,760

Total 668,737 1,550,332 1,818, Ulli 2,018,987 2,319,251

Total State and Prorlnce Population

British Col.MontanaIdahoWashingtonWyomingDtahNevadaOregon

178,6572I»3,329

161,772518,10392,=;31

376,7li9

U2.335Iil3,536

392,liBO

376,053325,59U,mi,99011.5,965

373,35181,875

672,765

52li,5825I.8,8P,9

li31,866

1,356,62119li,L02

IJi9,396

77,li07

783,389

69l<,263

537,606lili5,032

1,563,396225,565507,81,7

91,058953,786

617,861559,U56521i,873

1,736,191250,7li2

550,310llD,21i7

l,069,681i

Total 2,027,102 3,510,073 ^,366,552 5,008,553 5,639, 361i

165,37li

185,730569,069656,681.

1,506,600I1,65U

3,297,131

1,165,210591,02U588,637

2,378,963290,529688,862160,063

l,521,3la

7,381i,6U9

Cities oyer 100 Total Population by Dralna^ê Bajla

Col. R. above Od. Couloe Daiii-26 cities 222,601 21i6,26o 269,195 328,7lj2Col. P. above Snake R.toC.C. 26 cities 61,865 77,299 89,li78 I65,91i0(laklna P. Basin - 12 cities) 37,3li9 la,977 50,695 73,81i3(Snake P. Basin . Ii6 cities) 153,805 I59,81i6 201,173 26l,,256Col. P., Snake R. to the Dallas-SA cities 190,719 200,067 250,2li8 327,li79" ", Dalles to the Mouth liJ cities 379,li72 Uili,138 li95,091 672,la3

Total 150 Cities 1,01,5,8U 1,1W,584 i,i55,886 i,B3J,6t3

1. ?roni references 3, 6, 29, 30, 31 and hi2. British Columbia dale for 1901, 1911, 1921, 1931, .19la and 19513. Estijnated for British Columbia - data not available.

POPULATION GROWTH AND PREDICTION

FIG. 62

92

Population: Table 30 and figure 62show the past population growth in theColumbia River Basin and in the PacificNorthwest since I9OO. The basin populationcan be expected to grow because of an in-crease in the rate of births over deaths,because of an increase in irrigated landand because of increcused industrial devel-opment attracted by the abundance of waterand low cost electrical power.

Figure 62 shows a predicted ColumbiaRiver Basin population of about 5-1/2 mil-lion persons by the year 2000 with 3.7million of these residing in cities of over1000 population that will contribute domes-tic sewage to the basins streams. Thesepredicted populations (and they are nothingmore than an estimate) were deteimined byaveraging the rate of population growthfor the period I92O-I950 in the 3 catego-ries shown on figure 62, i.e., the totalPacific Northwest, the Columbia River Basinand the basin cities over 1000 populationcontributing sewage to the streams. Thisaverage growth rate was then projected tothe yeeu- 2000 as shown on figure 62.

Waste Characteristics: Table 3I

lists the assumed characteristics of domes-tic and industrial wastes that are or willbe discharged in the Basin. Domestic sew-age values shown are average ones ccmnonlyused in the field of sewage treatment.Industrial waste oxygen consuming valueswere averaged from studies of typical in-dustries in the Columbia 8Uid Ohio RiverBeisins (37)- Table 32 lists those indus-tries, by location on the Columbia Riversystem, whose waste discharges might havea deleterious effect on water quality.

Domestic smd Industrial PollutionEstimates: This study has concerned itselfonly with the relationship of the wastedischarges to the dissolved oxygen contentof the Columbia River. Predictions onother water quality changes are made insubsequent chapters on this study.

Table 3'*^ shows the data used toarrive at the estimated dissolved oxygendeficit in the Columbia River in the year2000 as a result of domestic and industrialwaste discharges. Population increasesbetween I95O and 2000 were obtained byusing the growth rate shown in figure 62.Industrial wastes are shown as populationequivalents, i.e., how many persons would

Table 31.--Acsiimf'l characteristics of treatedliomestlc sewage and Industrial wastes

I Do—»tlc 3—a«

Flow rata

Tot^ SoUda

3uT)WDd»4 Sollda

DlMolnd SoUda

PH

AUallBltr

ChlorldM

5 daj ?0°C B.O.D,

1 d«7 "

2 <l«r "

3 a.y •

U tmr •

6 <l«jr "

7 (lay

8 (Uy "

lat Stags 20°C B.O.D.

ladngtrlal Waat«8

lôod proceaalng planta

Palp and pap«r

lertlla

PstrolaroB & Coal Prod.

1 PopolatloD eqnlvmlent

100 gkU/cmfitm/iat

3SS P.P.K.

60 r.p.M.

26$ P.P.N.

7.8 P. P.M.

75 P.P.H.

X P.P.H.

7 P.P.H.

70 P.P.H. or O.OSa Iba. Oi

22

38

Si

62

77

62

.87

103

" 0.018

0.032 •

' 0.01.3 "

0.052 "

" 0.0611 "

" 0.068 "

0.073 "

" 0.086 "

li050 population •qniralent (arg. of 62 plasta)

373fOOO populaition oqnlvalaiit («*(. of 15 pluita)

5,270 - ing. of 26 pUnta)

lO.liOO • • inf. of 11 plant!)

0.167 lia. 0.., 5 dara • 20^0

0,2li5 • • , lat Staga

Âreraged frow rvforsncaa (36, 37 aiv] 38)

produce a dcmestic sewage (untreated)having the same oxygen consuming properties.These population equivalents were doubledin the 3 upper segments of the ColumbiaRiver between 1950 and 2000. They werekept stationary for the lower segment fromThe Dalles to the mouth as it seems mostlikely that the installation of recoveryand treatment processes in the pulp andpaper and in the food industries will soreduce the strength of their wastes thatthis will allow for increased industrialdevelopment without causing an increase inwater pollutants.

The critical period for dissolvedoxygen values should be in August and Sep-tember. Low river flows for this periodare shown in tables 33 and 3''-- It can beexpected that these low flow values willbe Increased as more regulatory structuresare built on the river system.

The total estimated biochemical

93

i'uTTiber of induatrisE with up-.-^t? dlrchnrge, treated an-i untreated

Basin Segmsnt

Table 3l.~Sstlmate.1 Industrial and domestic pollution load.

Columbia River

Segment

Year 1950 Year 2000'Critical

''unioipal Industrial >!uniclpal Industrial periodsewage waste sewage waste mlnirmir flov;

year 2000nuiilclpal

discharge population discharge population fron table 33^ In'uiTtrialpersons equivalent persons equivalent c.f .s. Ibs./i'a^-^

Total dis-solvei' ojr^'Kcn Total estl- I^stlTrâte-;

demand mated oxygen Es tins ted dissolveddemand in in segment o:^£enyear 2C00 i;-^g^c.r.t in deficit

Aug. - Sept. dailj' in riverP.P.". r.M.r.' I .p,

Above GrandCoulee Dam

Below GrandCovlee and AboveSnake River

Below SnakeRiver to theDalles

Dalles to the

Mouth

TOTAL

329,000 513,000 810,000 1,000,000 143,000

166,000 310,000 la'',ooo 600,000 52,000

327,000 1,900,000 310,000 3,600,000 82,000

672,000 5,670,000 1,660 ,"00 6,700,000 88,000

l,!i95,000 9,393,JO'j J, 70c, 000 12,100,000

315,000 l.?6

339,700 1.22

1,091,000 2.I47

531,000 1.22

0.1

0.1

0.1

o.iS

1.2

C.9

1 From reference (3U) and table 232.

2 Using growth rate of mujiiclpalltl.''3 fron fljûre 62. Ini'.islrlnl warte:j douVjled e::ccpt for Lower OolixT'jia.

3 Not corrected for future i~:poundment "^^rîlation,

h Assiuninc waste remains in T-iv-jr sejnent long enougii to e>:ert entire first stage B.O.D. fron tabic 31and one-half of o?:3''gen dcr.nn-1 of next upstream ssi^.ent carrie ' to downctren-i sctrent.

5 From refsrence {29), tcble 25 usi:is water depth of 20 feet.6 Assa-ning no oxygen added from photosynthesis.

oxygen demand values shown In table ^k wereobtained by multiplying the populations bythe B.O.D. values given in table 31 and byusing the August-September flow rates. Inthe upper 3 segments of the River it wasassumed, because of the many Impoundmentsthat will be in existence, that the wastewould remain in the segment long enough toexert its entire first stage oxygen demand.To this was added one -half of the upstreamsegment oxygen demand to allow for oxygendemands beyond the first stage. Becausethere will be no Impoundments In the lowerriver segment, a flow time of 2 days to theriver mouth wsis taken for the induBtrieuLwastes and 3 days for the domestic wastes.(The industries contributing the strongwastes stretch further down the ColumbiaRiver than does the bulk of the population.

)

A maximum predicted oxygen depletion of 2.5

p. p.m. is shown for the segment of theriver between the Snake River confluenceand The Dalles. Depletion of around 1.25p. p.m. are shown for the other 3 segments.

Heaeration of the river water takesplace concomitantly with this deoxygenation.It is very difficult to obtain any precise

reaeration coefficients for a stream suchas the Columbia. Accordingly, low valuesof reaeration were assumed. A value of 6pounds of oxygen per day, per acre of watersurfaces, was assimied for the upper 3 seg-ments where the river will be a series ofImpoundments and 9 pounds was taken for themore rapidly flowing (and mixing) lowersegment. These reaeration values do nottake into account any oxygen supplied fromphotosynthesis

.

The estimated dissolved oxygen defi-cit in the h river segments (table 3*^) wasobtained by multiplying the daily reaera-tion by the segment flow time and subtract-ing the product frcm the oxygen demand.Deficits of around 1 p. p.m. are shown forthe Columbia River between the Snake Riverconfluence and the mouth. It is believed,however, that there will be no actualdeficit in the year 2000 because minimumriver flows should be greater during thatperiod (unless the Canadian divert upperColumbia River waters) and pbotosynthetlcactivities should be great in August andSeptember for oxygen production.

95

Table 35 . —Watershed usage factors for water quality prediction!

In suomatlon, the Columbia Riversystem sbould experience no appreciabledissolved oxygen reductions, other thanlocalized affects, to the year 2000 pro-vided that these broad assumptions proveto be valid.

PREDICTION OF FUTUBEWATER QUALITY

The quality of water in a riverunaffected by man's activities is relatedto the size of the watershed, the amountof river discharge, cllmatologlcal condi-tions and the nature of the soil and rockfomatlons. The larger the watershed fora given rate of flow, the greater will bethe amount of mineral matter taken Intosolution. Conversely, the greater the rataof flow for a given watershed area, theless will be the amount of matter takeninto solution. The solvent effect of thewater is dependent upon the water tempera-ture, water pH or carbon dioxide contentand on the solubility of the soil and rockfozmation in the watershed. Dissolvedmaterial is usually greatest in a waterdraining an area of fine textured, alka-line soil. Noimally, the dissolved con-stituents in a given stream are present inan Inverse ratio to stream discharge.Color and turbidity are visually present insomewhat of a direct ratio to stream dis-charge, increasing particularly after aheavy ralnstoim.

Man has altered this natural waterqioallty by the construction of reservoirs,return of spent irrigation waters, dis-charge of dcmestic sewage and by the dis-charge of industrial wastes. In a givenwatershed, a very detailed analysis andstudy would be necessary to separate theeffect each of these man-made changes hashad on the river water quality constituents.In general, reservoirs have their principaleffect on water quality by reducing turbidi-ty and by changing the downstream watertemperatures. They may slightly increaseor decrease the dissolved constituents butdo not produce any marked effect thereinexcept, if the reservoir is large, to evenout the noimal changes in constituentswith changes in stream discharge.

Since the marked changes in waterquality are then caused by Irrigation andpollutants, a prediction of future water

quality will necessitate the relating ofthese factors to stream flow and watershedarea for a given drainage basin. Industrialweiste discharges have been previously com-puted (tables 32 €ind 3k) on a popvilation

equivalent basis deteimined by their bio-chemical oxygen demands related to that ofdomestic sewage. This equivalent does notnecessarily hold for the other constituentsin a waste discharge, such as dissolvedsolids, but they are comparable and will beso used for lack of a better unit or unitsof evaluation.

Watershed Usage Factors ;

To combine these stream water qualityvariables, a factor has been devised whichwill be called the "Watershed Usage Factors".This factor, with components therein in

units X 10^, is equal to: (Population is

for watershed plus Industrial waste equiva-lent)

Population X Irrigated AcreageDischeirge in C.F.S. X Watershead Area in Sq. Mi.

Table 35 represents a computation ofthese "Watershed Usage Factors" for streamsin the Colimibia River Basin where waterquality data are available for purposes offuture quality prediction. In the table,these factors are ccanputed for the periodof 1910-12, 1950-56 and for the future year2000. The factors for 2000 were computedusing the mean stream discharge of record,a uniform watershed population increasethroughout the Columbia River Basin, asshown in figure 62, and an Industrial wastecontribution double that of 1950. Indus-trial wastes sbould more than triple In thenext Uo years. However, more suid improvedmethods of industrial waste treatment shouldbe in use, thus lessening the quantity ofpollutants. In watersheds like the Wenatcheeand Deschutes where there now are no signi-ficant industrial pollutants, it was assumedthat these woxild be built in the future tothe extent of their discharging pollutantsequivalent to the predicted population.

The "Watershed Usage Factors" intable 35 show very definitely the relation-ship between the stream flow and the usemade of the water. The highly developedYakima River in 1950 has a visage factor 7times as great as the next highest, theSnake. At The Dalles the Columbia River,eJ-though receiving the pollutants from the

97

Table 37.— Estimated Future Water Quality Charactoristlca - MaxlmuiB Monthly Values

Snake, Yakima and other tributaries, has a

usage factor only half that of the SnakeRiver because of the high flow rate in the

Columbia. The Yakima River at Cle Elum has

a very low usage factor because of the low

watershed occupancy. Large increases inusage factors between 1910 and 1950 areaccompanied by marked increases in the con-

stituents of the water.

Prediction of Constituents

in Year 20051

Table 36 lists the predicted waterquality constituents in the year 2000, ob-

tained by relating the change in the water-

shed usage factor between 1910 and 1950 withthe change in the constituents during that

period. By direct proportion, tliis consti-

tuent was then projected to the year 2000

by the change in the usage factor between1950 and 2000. It should be stressed thatthese predictions are gross approximations

and that past changes in water qiiality maynot necessarily be reflected in like future

changes. With the increased use of complex

chemical substances in industry, the house-

hold and in agriculture, substances will be

added to the streams not now present, or

present now in minute quantities.

Table 36 lists predictions only on

those substances where sufficient backgrounddata are available for a prediction. Not

shown are such constituents of quality as

pH, temperature, boron, fluoride, specific

conductance, carbon dioxide, ammonia, dis-

solved oxygen and the trace elements like

copper and aluminum. Dissolved oxygenchanges are discussed elsewhere in this

report. PH values rise with increasingquantities of irrigation retiirn flow. Inthe future it can be expected that the pHvalues in the water will be 0.1 to 0.3

higher than in 1955. Carbon dioxide (where

the pH is less than 8) and ammonia should

more than double in the futiire as organic

matter in the rivers undergoes decomposition.

Trace elements should show a marked increase

with the advent of more metal and chemical

industries and the use of more pesticidesand weed killers.

The estimated future water qualitycharacteristics in table 36 all arpear quite

reasonable excepting for total solids and

iron in the Columbia River at Pasco and

iron in the Wenatchee River. Estimatedvalues for the Columbia River at Pasco, the

Wenatchee and Okanogan Rivers are subject

to more question than the ottiers since the

data for these river estimates are more

limited than it is on the other locations.

Since these are yearly weighted average

values, it can be expected that during the

late summer and autwnn (when stream flows

are low, irrigation returns are large and

food industry waste discharges are great)

most of the values shov;n in table 36 will

be exceeded by 10 to 100 percent. Applyingthe "Watershed Usage Factors" to the differ-

ences in the maxim.tim monthly water quality

values shovin in tlie tables on 'Vater QualityComparisons", estimated maximum future con-

stituent values are obtained and given intable 37. These maximum values for eachconstituent at a particular location vjill

not all be of maximum value during the sametime period. Time periods of maximum con-centrations should not exceed one month in

dtu"ation. In computing these future consti-tuent concentrations, it was assumed thatthere would be no future change in riverflows. If river discharges are increasedduring the summer and autunn through con-struction of increased iirpoundments, theseconstituent values will be decreased throughdilution. The most accurate method of pre-dicting future water quality would be on a

weight basis, taking stream discharge into

accoTint. This is not possible throughoutthe Basin because of limited past and futuredischarge data.

Hydrogen ion (pH) and carbonate alka-linity values will be high in several loca-

tions during the summer or autumn. From a

study of present values, it is predictedthat future pH and carbonate alkalinityvalues can be expected to reach or exceedthe following magnitudes during a month or

so at the following locations:

prediction of water temperature changesthat will be caused by the construction ofnew reservoirs in the Columbia River Basin.A previous chapter in this report discussesthe effect of existing reservoirs on down-stream water temperatures. Table lit in thechapter gives the average monthly tempera-ture changes through four reservoirs. Thesereservoirs show a maximum monthly watertemperatvire increase averaging 1.85° F. foreach million acre-feet of impoundment or0.88° F. increase for each 10,000 acres ofaverage water surface area during the monthof August when water temperatures are at amaxismm.

Proposed reservoirs for constructionin the Basin are of all shapes, sizes anddepths. Little data are available on someof the proposed reservoirs. Since the aboveaverage temperatiur-e increases are for reser-voirs of widely differing characteristics,these figures will be used in predictingfutujre temperatures in the different riverbasins if all proposed reservoirs are con-structed. Table 38 lists the summation ofthe average or usable (whichever data wereavailable) reservoir storage and the averagereservoir surface area above different loca-tions in the Basin. Reservoir data to 1955were obtained from governmental agencies,private pOT/er companies and the CanadaDepartment of Northern Affairs and NaturalResources. (These reservoir data are sub-ject to some change as dam planning is in aconstant state of revision.) The tablegives the theoretical rise in river watertemperature if the increased impoundmentswere to increase the water temperatures asthejr did in the four existing reservoirsused for comparison purposes. Obviously,the river temperatures will not rise asshOT-m in the table. The last column in thetable is a guess at what the actiial rivertem.peratureE may be if the proposed reser-voirs arc constructed. This shOT^s all rivertemperatures, excepting the Wenatchee, tobe in excess of 70 F. dtiring the month ofAugust with the Snake River temperatmêsexceeding 75° F. (Snake River watei- tem-peratures in August of 1956 occasionallyreached 75° F.)

Another factor that will increaseriver temperatures materially is increasedirrigation return floxi/s. If the majorityof the water to be stored in future reser-voirs is contained in larrê, deep inipound-

ments, it is possible that some river

temperatures in August m_ay actually bedecreased or at least held tjo present levels.

There is a definite need for ncre study and

data on river watei' temperatures, the influ-

ence thereon by dam construction and irriga-tion return flows and the effect thesepredicted temperatures ivill have on the fish

life in a particular stream.

AGKNa-7LEDG?'ni;tJTS

Supplemental data for this reportwere kindly furnished by the U. S. Geologi-cal Survey (and in particular by H. A.

Svjenson, District Gheriist, Portland, Oregon)j

U. S. Bureau of Reclamation (and in particu-lar by Edwin Nasbm^g, Chief, Hydrograph;/ and

Drainage Branch, Epiirr.ta, Wasiilngton); U. S.

CoiTiE of Engineers; Chelan County PublicUtility District (and in particular, Scott

H. Bair, Hydraulic Engineer, XVenatchee, 'Jash-

ington) ; Canada Department of Tines andTechnical S\irveys; Dominion Bureau of Statis-

tics, Ottavja, Canada; Idaho POT^'or Company;

Puget Sound Power and Light Company; CanadaDepartment of Northern Affair? and Nations!Resources; The Washington Water Fewer Companj^

Pacific Power and Light Corripanyj City ofPortland, Oregon (and in particular to FredG. Kachel?ioeffer, Chemist); U. £. PublicHealth Sei'vice; Washington Pollution ControlCommission; Ivan Donaldson and Fred ^Cramer,

Aquatic Biologists at Bonneville and McNaryDams; Washington State Department of Fisher-ies; U. S. VJeather Bureau; Professor HooverMackin and Warren A. Starr for their infor-mation on soil structuiê sm' geology; theGeneral Electric Company, Hanford Works;Agriculture Experiment Station, Universityof Idaho; U. S. Department of Agriculture,Salinity Laboratorj', Riverside, California;the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Cali-fornia Departm.ent of Fish and Game; andCalifornia Department of Public Woi'ks.

Data for this study were collected,analyzed and summarized by the followingUniversity of Washington personnel: R. 0.

Sylvester, Associate Professor of SanJ.tary

Engineering; H. P. Mittet, Associate Pro-

fessor of Civil Engineering; G. P. Ruggles,Fisl'erles Biologist; and the following CivilEngineering graduate and undergratuatestudents : Robert Seabloom, Gerald Hansler,William Peterson, James Gustafson', RobertOkey, William Pj-'e, Millard Zvnvm, WilliamIlenr;, John Underwood and Keith Dodge. Thesanitarj'- engineering laboratory in the

100

University's Civil Engineering Departmentwas utilized for the data measurement andevaluation.

Leon Verhoeven, Research AssistantProfessor, School of Fisheries, and KingsleyV/eber, Fishery Research Biologist, U. S.

Fish and Wildlife Sei-vice, Seattle, weremost helpful in the conduct of this study.

Grateful acknowledgment is given theChelan County, Washington, Public UtilityDistrict for supplying funds to cover a

portion of this study.

BIBLICGRAPHY

1. Scofield, Carl S.

I9U0. Salt balance in irrigated areas.Journal of Agricultural Research,61 (1), July 19ltO.

2. HouJc, I. E.

1951. Irrigation engineering, VolumeI. New York. John Wiley and Sons,

19^1.

3. U. S. Department of the Interior,Bureau of Reclamation.

19l;7. The Columbia River. Report tothe Eighty-First Congress, 19ii7.

It. U. S. Army, Corps of Engineers,North Pacific Division.

I9I18. Review report on Columbia Riverand tributaries (308 Report), 19U8.

$. U. S. Geological Survey.1953. Irrigation and streamflow deple-

tion in Columbia River Basin aboveThe Dallas, Oregon. Water SupplyPaper 1220, 1953.

6. Thomas, J. F. J.

1953. Columbia River drainage basinin Canada, 19li9-1950. Ottawa.Canada Department of Mines and Tech-nical Surveys, V/ater Survey Report

No. li, 1953.

7. Ellis, M. M.

1937. Detection and measurement ofstream pollution. U. S. Departmentof Commerce, Bureau of FisheriesBulletin 22, 1937.

8. International Pacific Salmon

Fisheries Commission

.

19^3. A review of the sockeye salmonproblems created by the Alcan Pro-ject in the Nechako River water-shed. New VJestminster, Canada.

9. Department of Scientific andIndustrial Research.

195U. Report of the water pollutionresearch board, 19^h- London.

10. Doudoroff, Peter, and Max Katz.19^0. Critical review of literature

on the toxicity of industrialwastes and their components tofish: I. Alkalies, acids, andinorganic gases. Sewage and In-dustrial Wastes, 1950, 22 (11),li;32-lii58.

~

11. Doudoroff, Peter, and Max Katz.1953. Critical review of literature

o"" the toxicity of industrial wastesand their components to fish; II.The metals as salts. Sewage andIndustrial Wastes, 19^3. 25 (7),802-839.

~

12. California State Water PollutionControl Board.

1952. Water quality criteria Sacra-mento. Publication No. 3, 1952.

13. Canada Department of Fisheries.1953. A report on the wastes from

oil refineries and recomit>endationsfor their disposal. Vancoirver,B. C, 1953.

lli. U. S. Geological Survey, Quality ofBranch; Portland, Oregon, andSalt Lake City, Utah.

Unpublished water quality data(subject to revision).

15. Jensen, M. C, G. C. Lewis,and G. 0. Bsker.

1951. Characteristics of irrigationwaters in Idaho. University ofIdaho, 1951, Research BulletinNo. 19.

16. U.S. Department of Agriculture.19Sh' Diagnosis and improvement of

saline and alkali soils. Agri-cultxire Handbook No. 60, 195Ii.

101

17. Craig, J. A., and L. D. TOTmsend.I9I16. An investigation of fish-

maintenance problems in relationto the Willamette Vallej' Project.U. S. Fish and V7ildlife Service,Special Scientific Report No. 33,1916.

18. Coli.ui±)ia Baffin Inter-Agency Committee,Pollution- "ontrol Sub-Committee.

1952. Report of Columbia River andtributaries mileage index. 1952.

19. Standard methols for the examination ofwater, seuage, and industrialwastes. Ninth and Tenth Editions;

19U6 and 1955. A. P. H. A.;A. W, W. A.; F. S. I. Vr. A.

20. State of Washington, PollutionControl Commission.

19^3. Report on investigation ofpollution in the lower ColumbiaRiver. 19ii3.

21. Sylvester, R. 0., et al.

1951. An investigation of pollutionin the Yakima River Basin. Stateof Washington Pollution ControlCommission, Technical Report No. 9,1951.

22. Smith, Richard T.

Unpublished. Report on the LewisRiver Salmon Conservation Program.State of Washi'iôn Department ofFisheries.

23. Eldrige, Warren E., and H. 0. Hoggatt.1953. Chemical analysis of Lewis

River water. State of WashingtonDepartment of Fisheries report.1953.

2l». Mundorff, M. J., D. J. Reis, andJ. R. Strand.

1952. Progress report on ground waterin the Columbia River Basin Project,Washington. State of WashingtonGround-W?ter Report No. 3. 1952.

25. Kundorff, M. J.

1953. Ground xjater conditions in theCol-.iribla River Basin Project.U. S. Geological Survey, 1953.Mimeograph paper.

26. Smoker, William A.

1951. Environmental changes to be

expected from the installation ofthe proposed City of Tacoma CowlitzRiver dams. State of WashingtonDepartment of Fisheries, 195l.Mimeograph statement.

27. Swenson, H. A.

195U. The quality and character ofPacific Northwest v;aters. U. S.

Geological Survey, 195ii. MLmeo-graph paper.

23. Parshall, Ralph L.

1922. Return of seepage water to thelower South Platte River in Colo-rado. Colorado Agricultural Col-lege, 1922, Bulletin 279.

29. U. S. Population Census, 1950, Vol. 2.

Characteristics of the population.

30. Fourteenth Census of the United States,1920, Vol. 1, Table )49.

31. Fifteenth Census of the United States,1930, Population, Vol. 1.

32. Kinnison, Hollar d 3.

1952. Evaluation of streamflowrecords in Yakima River Basin,Washington. U. S. Geological S\ir-

vey Circular I80, 1952.

33. Schmidt, C. F., S. M. Dornbusch,and V. A. Miller.

1955. Population growth and distri-bution State of Washington. Wash-ington State Census Board, 1955-

3li. U. S. Public . ,alth Service.1951. Pacific Northwest Drainage

Basins. Publication 87.

35. Washington Department of Conservationand Development.

1955. Monthly and yearly s-mmaries ofhydrographic data in the State ofWashington. Water-Supply Bulletin6, 1955.

36. U. S. Public Health Service.Columbia River Basin below YakimaRiver, 19^?. Water PollutionSei'ies No. I;5.

37. U. S. Public Health Service.19^2. Ohio River nollution survey.

102

38. U. S. Public Health Service.

1950. Willamette River Basin. WaterPollution Series JTo. 19, 1950.

39. Inhoff and Fair.Sewage treatment.Sons, Inc.

John Wiley and

i40. Jones, K. R., D. R. Peterson andG. T. Orlob.

n.d. An investigation of pollutionin the lower Colunbia River Basin,

1951. Washington Pollution ControlCommission. Tech. Bulletin 12.

III. Dominion Bureau of Statistics, CensusDivision. Ottawa, Canada.

Ii2. Rosteriback, R. E.

n.d. Temperature of the ColumbiaRiver between Priest Rapids, Wash-ington and Umatillo, Oregon, 1955-

ffi':-393ii7. General Electric Co.,

Richland, Washington.

U3. Robeck, G. C, C. Henderson andR. C. Palange.

1951i. Water quality studies on the

Columbia River. U. S. PublicHealth Service, 19$h.

kh> Gangmark, H. A., and L. A. Fulton

19U9. Preliminary surveys of Roose-velt Lake in relation to gamefishes. U. S. Fish and WildlifeService, Special Scientific Report:Fisheries No. 5, 19U9.

U5. U. S. Department of Commerce,Weather B\ireau.

Climatological data.

Ii6. U. S. Geological Survey,Surface Water Branch.

Current discharge at selectedstations in Pacific Northwest,I95I4-56.

Ii7. Howard, C. S.

I9U8. Quality of water in the North-west. Trans. Am. Geophys. Union,Vol. 29, No. 3, 379-383, June 19U8.

U8. Collins, W. D., U.S.G.S. W.S.P. 596-H.

pp. 236-261, 1928.

Ii9. Van Wini:le, Walter, U.S.G.S. W.S.P.

pp. 339 and 363, 19lli.

50. Sylvester, R. 0.

n.d. Quality of water investigations,Columbia River Basin. InterimRept., 195U-55 to U. S. Fish andVfildlife Service from Universityof Washington.

103

APPENDIX

Table A.—Columbia River Basin

Significant reservoir data - existing and proposed projects

stream and reservoir, damNo . or project name

KOOTENAI RIVER :

1 Libby Dam S ite

2 Katka Dam Site3 Corra Linn Dam

4 Upper Bonnington Dam

5 Lower Bonnington Dam

6 South Slocum Dam

7 Brilliant Dam

Reservoir sizeLength Avg. widthmiles miles

stream and reservoir, damNo . or project name

SNAKJ RIVER Cont'd:6b Smith Ferry Dam*

57 Cascade Dam*68 Deadwood Dam*'

69 Garden Vallye Dam Site

70 Black Canyon Dam

71 Lost Valley Dam Site*72 Unity Dam*

73 Thief Valley Dam*

74 Brownlee Dam

75 Oxbow Dam

76 Hells Canyon Dam Site77 Pleasant Valley Dam Site78 Mountain Sheep79 Crevice Dam Site80 Freedom Dam Site81 Nez Perce Dam Site82 Asotin Dam Site83 Clarkston Dam Site84 Koosksia Dam Site85 Elkberry Dam Site86 Bruce's Eddy Dam Site

87 Lower Granite88 Little Goose Dam Site89 Lower Monumental Dam Site

90 Ice Harbor Dam91 McNary Dam

UMATILLA RIVER :

92 McKay Dam*

93 Cold Springs Dam*

DESCHUTES RIVER :

94 John Day Dam Site95 Wickiup Dam*96 Crescent Lake Dam*97 Crane Prairie Dam*

98 Prineville Dam Site*99 Ochoco Dam*

100 The Dalles Dam

101 Bonneville Dam

WILLAMETTE RIVER:102

stream and reservoir, dam

or project name

Reservoir sizeLength Avg. widthmiles miles

Storage capacity— acre feet Water depth

Usable FuHDead storage Full pool Average pool

Normal head onturbine intakes

or outlets

SNAK£ RIVER Cont'd:

66 Smith Ferry Dam*

67 Cascade Dam*

68 Deadwood Dam*

69 Garden Valley Dam Site

70 Black Canyon Dam

71 Lost Valley Dam Site*72 Unity Dam*

73 Thief Valley Dam*

74 Brownlee Dam

75 Oxbow Dam

76 Hells Canyon Dam Site

77 Pleasant Valley Dam Site

78 Mountain Sheep

79 Crevice Dam Site

80 Freedom Dam Site81 Nez Perce Dam Site82 Asotin Dam Site83 Clarkston Dam Site

84 Koosksia Dam Site85 Elkberry Dam Site

86 Bruce*s Eddy Dam Site

87 Lower Granite8& Little Goose Dam Site89 Lower Monumental Dam Site90 Ice Harbor Dam

91 McNary Dam

UMATILLA RIVER :

92 McKay Dam*

93 Cold Springs Dam*

DESCHUTES RIVER :

94 John Day Dam Site95 Wickiup Dam*

96 Crescent Lake Dam*

97 Crane Prairie Dam*

98 Prineville Dam Site*99 Ochoco Dam*

100 The Dalles Dam

101 Bonneville Dam

18

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Table c— COLUMBIA RIVHi SURVEI

WTD) QDAUTI SOTWARI . AVERAGE MDOTHLI Dl P. P.M.

—irrrs:—;

ATg. Flow I vyRo. SaoipXe Coi^xwlt**W»t«r Tm^. °rDiss. OsTgen* D. 0. Sstor.Cartwn Dioxid*

tiimla KB}Total AU. CiCO-i

HCO3-COj"

Total Hard. CtCOjCarti. Eanl. CaCO]Hoi>.Carb. HaM.Svl/atoa SO],-

ColorTnrtldltyTotal IroeCoppsrZlne

Statloni Cowllti RlTar at Castlo Rock

Ported of 3iiMai7i iy?ii-iy?s

Aprtl Mar'

Dsslgiatlonl CC-8?.?

Jan, Fob. M«i Jnlj^ Aug.'

CalslnKagBulmSodloiPotassliai

HanganwooSUrarTotal SoUdaCond. nboa. 2$°

5.71

li2.8

12.19717.10.05

2323

2823Stu6

62

3«pt.'

12.8

WATER QnAlITT Sm«ART - ATHUGS MONTHLY W P. P.M.

St«tioni Levis RiTer Belov MeralD Dan Woaber 3 DeelgnAtloQi CL-106^3

Period of Soamryi 195U-1?55

Jtn, Feb. Mari Aprtl M«T^ Jmif^ Jm^J^^ Augj^ Septy^ Oct. MOT^ Cec.-^

C.F.S.Ave. Flow X l£p

No. Sample CcnpOBitcsWater Teap. Êiae* O^^genf D. 0. Satur.Carbon Dioxide

AnnODia KH3Total Alk. CiC03

acoj-

CO3*

Total Hard. CaCOjGarb. Baid. CaCO^Koo-Carb. Hard.Sulfates SO],*

ColorTurbidityTotal IronCopperZiroLeadAlumiiiun

CalciUBMagnasllMSodiumPotaasimManganoaaSilTBrTotal SclldaGood, unhoa. 25^

2.81

ltO.6

12.29517.0o.fao

16

16

lit

lb

17.S2.9OjtO0.20

0.10b

3.0

O

13us

L.O

WATER QDALTTT SDMMART - AVHIAGE MDMTHLY IN P. P.M.

Station! L»¥i« RlT«r Abcnre Tal» Dm Numbcn _2_ Desl^natloni CL-137

Period of Smtmtti iy5li-iy55

Jan*

C.F.S.

I

ATg. rio» X icPKo« Sainple ConpoaltesWater Tenp. "r

Dlaa. Oxygen% V, 0. Satur.Carbon Moilde

ABBonla HH^Tortal AUt. CaCOj

HCO,"CO3-

Total Bard. CaC03

Carb, Hard. CaCOjloi>-Carb. Banl.Sulfates SO|j"

ColorTnrbidltyTotal IronCopperZincLeadAlnndjBBCalcloHMagnealTASodltai

PotaaslmiKangajwae31lT»rTotal SoUdaCond. uhoa. 2$°

MarS AprU May^ Ju»'li2 li2 li2

July Aqg. Sept. Oct. Not. Dec;

1.32i

3J.012.8

?T1.5

7.00.12

2222

2020

1S3.1

liS

58

a.u.

WATFE aUAUrr SUMMARY - AVERAGE HDWTHLr IM P. P.M.

HATER anALITT SDMHABt - AVERAGE HDNIHLI HI P. P.M.

WJIIER QDAllTT SromART - AVERAGE HOOTHLI IN P.P.M-

SUtloni D«iBetnrt«» RlTar «t mmth Ntaberl 11 Dealgmtloni CD-Z03.6

Period of Sanniryi 19?U - 19??

TTXATg. Flow X 103No* Sample CompositesWater Tenp. °rDiss, 03Qrgen

$ D. 0. Satup.Csiton DloildapH(3)

AflBionla KR^Total Alk. CaCOj

HCO3-CO,-

Total Hara. CaCOjCarb. Hard. CaCOjHon-Carb. Bard.Sulfates 30)^"

ColorTurbidityTotal IronCopperZincLeadAlisoluuB

CalciumMagoesixaSodluaPotassiumNangaaeseSllTerTotal SolidsCond. mdioa. IS*

Jan« Feb, Mar.' April May' Jana^ Juljl 1,^,1 Septi Oct,

5.171W.TU.8

102.5

8.U0.70

5SSS-I

liZ

hZ

S89

66

101

1 195I1

2 1955

3 Sae dlacusslon

6,72

VBTER (JUiLTTY SUMMARI - AVERAGE MOOTRII IN P. P.M.

WIHR QnALITI STOMARr . IVHUOB MDWHLI IN P. P.M.

C.F.S.ATg. Flow X 103No. Sample CompositfWater Tenqj* ^Diss. (hQTgan

f r. 0. Satur.Carbon PloildapH*AjiraoniA NB-*

Total Alk. CaCO,HCO-CCO,

Total Harf. CaCO,Carb. Hard. CtfO,NoD-Carbo Hard*Sulfates SO.

"

ColorTurbidityTotal IronCopperZinleadAXuniuiQBCalcioMMa^neaitsiSodltmPotaasltoiManganeseSilverTotal SoUdaCond. mihoa. 2$°

Statlooi Potholes. E. Cajal. Hlle 65.6 Nunberi _1^ Designation! C-(P.E.C.) 7LTPeriod of Svranaryi l?51i-19SS

Jan. Feb. Mar. April May Jnn«^ Jn]}^ Augj^ 3«pt}^ Oct. Mot.

19a

Sae dlscoaslon

0.088

WATER QnALTTT SHHHARI - AVERAGE MOWHLY W P. P.M.

Wtm QUALITT SUMMART . AVERAGE MDNTHLT IN P. P.M.

3tatlont Taklaa RlTar below Union Gap thonbert 19 Desi^natloni C-1 U3J^»9

Period of Somaryi ISJk - 1?S5

Jm, Feb. Mar? April t^ Jia«"^ Julj^^ Aug}^ Sept}^ Oct. Hot Bee}C F,S

Avg, Floi X io3Ho« SuipXe CompOBlt«BWater Tenp.*^Dii8. Oxygen% D, 0. Satnr,Carbon Dloxltto

pB.

CtfOj

Aanonla I

Total Uk.HCO,CO3-

Total Hard. CaC03

Cart. Hard. CaCOjHoo-Carb. Hard«3nl/ates SO]j"

ColorTnrtldltyTotal IronCapperZlnoLeadAlunlncDBCaleltaMa^nealunSodiumPotadslnmManganeseSllTerTotal SolldaCond. mhos. 2$°

1ia.012.2

9717.91.0

7373

65

6S

s107.7

68161

19511955Sec discuasloo

1

WATER aHALITI SUMMARY - AVKRAOE MOBTHLT IN P. P.M.

St«tloni ItkliM RlTar »boT« ll«ch»5 Junrtlon Humberi

Period of Sunmiaryi 19SU

21 DoBlgnationi CT - l^$

C.F.S. I

ATg. Tltm X icy

No* Sample C^po9lt«9

D108. Oxyg«n% D. 0. Satmr.CartioD DioxidepB.Anmonia NH3

Total Alk. CaCOjBCO3-CO,"

Total Hard. CaCOj

Carb. Bard. CaCOjNoD-Carb. Har^.Sulfates SO],'

ColorTurtldltyTotal IronCopperUnoLeadAluaijnmCalciuaMagnesluBSodlsaPotaeslTBHanganeaeSilTerTotal SoUdiCond. unhoB. 25^

Jan* Feb, Mar. April Mar Jram July Aug. Sept. Oct.

5.U

W«IER aUALITT SWWARI - AVEIUSE HOWiOI IN P.P.M.

Station I Wonatchee Fiver ooar Mouth Number i Doslgnationi CW - U71

Period of Swimaryi 195U-1?55-1?56

JaiC Fob^ April-* yi^î Ju.i.^^3j^.2»0^^1.aJs^^,ac3o^2i.3 mov^^ E.cFC.F.S.

Avp. Flow X 103

No. Sample Composites

Water Temp. °F

Diss. Oxygen% D. 0. Satur.Carbon Cloxlde

PHAmmonia NBi

Total Alk. CaCOiHC03-CO,-

Total Hard. CaCO,

Carb. Hard. Caf:03

Non-Carb. Hard.Sulfates SOl,"

ColorTurbidityTotal IronCopperZllKLeadAlumlnuiD

CalciumHagnesiunSodiumEotaasluin

ManganeseSilverTotal SolldeCond. uiuhos. 25*

0.851

32.0U.2

1002.07.2

0.27

3939

li3

39h

2.5102

0.010.00

0.00L.Oli.O

1.01.6

0.951

35.9Ui.o

101)

1.5

7.30.16

3939

li5

396

1».6

10

5

.25

.a

.16

0.982

U0.912.6

102

1.

7.

0.

k8US

53U8

5

2.

191.0

1.61

U6.211.5992.57.1i

0.21

ko

Uo

w1.0

1..6

1.8

80

U,32

1.7.6

11.8102

1.757.1.

0,01.

1.3

1.3

55

U312

3.11718

13.333

50.711.1

1001.337.10.08

25

25

u.

11.

1.06

110.02O.OOC

9.77

86

85

50102

270

9U

US

0.0055.00.81.81.2

53

37

,01

,000

,00

,00

,00

,5

,3

,5

,5

,0

,0

2.928

61.710.1

1031.27.6

0.0820

19

1

19

19

1.7660.020.00

0.966

60.510.6

1080.1.

8.1

0.072926

326

26

2.1

5

U0.030.00

0.0023.21.81.5l.U

1.9

U6

0.019.93.82.01.6

U660

1.1.9

U50.2U.l

100

1.U7.8

0.1128

28

28

28

3.6

7ID0.030.00

0.0310.1.

1.22.0o.a

1-982

1.2.3

12.2100

1.2

7.7

0.1226

26

22

22

0.96

3

1.6U2

32.613.6961.57.5

0.1927

27

31.

27

7

0.6U5

US

63

18

52

UO69

1 - 195U2 - 19553 - 1956

Statloni Columbia HlTer «t Brewater Nimberi 2U Designation C-S 30.1

Period of Snanaryi 195U-1955

Jan. Fab. Mar.^ April May^ Jgna^^ Julr"^ Aug^"^ Sapti^ Oct. Norl Pee}

C.F.S.ATg. Flow I ICKHo. Sample CompositesWater Temp. "F

Dlaa. OsQênf D. 0. Satur.Carbon DioxidepB*Ammonia NH^

Total AUc. CaCOjHCO3-CO3-

Total Hara. CaC03Carb. Hard. C<C03Non-Cerb. Hard.Sulfates 30|j-

ColorTurbidityTotal IronCopperZinc

80.31

37.215111

1.07.70,

67

67

81

67U.

16

5

7

10

69.7

HATER QUALITY SDHIAP.T - AVHUGE MDOTHLY IN P.P.M.

DaalgnatloniCO -$li8|6

HATER QnAUTI StIMMABT - AVERAGE MOHTHII IN P. P.M.

Statloni Main Canal Headnorlca at Coulae Dam NumboriJJ Deslgnatloni C.(1C)-S97.S

Period of Suimnaryi IS5U

10.1 9.9108 99 1011.33 0.8 0.27.8 7.7 7.9

T 0.0062

IS 10 1,

3 2

-yry^^ i22^ ^-^ '^- "P^^ "^ J"" -"ly ^«. 3«rt.. Oct. MOV. B«.ATg. Flow X KK 3 13 , g, , anHo. Sample Composites i ''

3*

J**"Hater lemp. "F ci cr rn » ^l!-J ,^

*^57.5 59.2 62.0Diss. Oxygen v, ,

* B. 0. Satur.Carbon Dlo^ddapB

TotUAlk.fc.CO3 ,»•«>g]

'^°3. 62 63 62

Total Hart. CaCO, /Si iS iSCart. Hard. CaCOi ZS 2i SxNonârt. Hard.

Î T ^

Turbidity,

Total Iron fCopper

" * "

Zlne- - -

Lead II"AlunlnuB

"

Calolm I" *

Kagneslim- - -

Sodlmi 1' '

PotaaaluBManganeseSilver I

" "

Total Solida ,2 .,Z'

Cond.^.2S. ^» i^ ^°

Statloni Main Canal beloM Coulee City Numben 28 Deslgnatloni C-(.'C)-627

Period of Sunmaryi 19gli-1955

Jan. Fob. Mar. April May Juna^^ July^^ Auei^ Sapti^ Oct. Sot. D«o.

C.F.S.ATg. Flow X 1d3No. Sample CcmposltesHater Temp. °!

Diss. Oxygen% D. 0. Satur.Carton Dloxida

Ansnonla NB^Total ADt. CaC03

HCO3-COj*

Total Hard. CaC03Carb. Hard. CaC03Non.Cart. Hard.Sulfates 30^-ColorTurbidityTotal IronCopperZlnoLeadAlujnlnuB

CaloiuBMagneslunSodluPotaaslunManganeseSilverTotal SolidsCond. umbos. 25^

1 - I95I1

2 - 1955

126

3.6U

WTEK QUAUTT SDMMAHI - ATKRAGE HONTHLT IN P.P.M.

Station! Crab Cr»ek mar Wllaon Cr««k Nunbsri 22

Period of Sunmsiyi iy51i-iy55

Deelgmtlon CCb - Ii90

Jan. April May June Juljr^ Augi S«pti Mot.C.F.S.

MATES QUALITT StJMNAHT - AVHIAGE MOUTHLI IB P.P.M.

Statloni Crab Creek (Vflllow Rm) So. Moeaa Lain Noaberi 31 Deslgtatlon: CCb-li£6.?

Period of SvmaAryi 195^-1955

Jm.C.F.S.

ATg. Flow X ICKNo. Sample CcnpositesWater Tensp. ^Diss. Oxygen% D. 0. Sstur.Carbon IHoxldepHAnaonla BB3Total Alk. CaCOj

HCO3-CO3-

Total Hard. CaC03

Garb. Bard. CaCOjNon-Carb. Hard.Sulfates SOi,"

ColorTnrbidltyTotal IronCopperZinoLeadAluminumCaldtaaKagnesltiBi

SodluaPotaesluBManganeseSllTerTotal SolidsCond. mhos. 2$°

1bS.3U.Z90T8,2

0.0511.3

U*3

132

132

Ui60130

3ia31:8

April Way' Jum^ July^ Aiigl Sept} Oct

.

WATER QUALTTT SUMMARY - AVERAGE MOWTHLT IN P.P.M,

Statloni East Low Canal at Warden Numberi 3i^ Doel^nfitloni C-(BU:)-667

Period of Summary i l95h-i9SSJan. Feb. Mar

c.r.s.ATg, Flow X 103

No, Sample CompositesWater Terap, ^Diss, Oxygen$ D. 0. Satur.Carton Ploxide

Isnonla NH^

Total Alk. CitfOj

HCO,"co<-

Total Harfl. CaCO^Garb, Hard, CaCOjNon-Carb. Hard,Sulfates 30^^"

ColorTiirbldltyTotal IronCopparZinoLeadllumlnuBCalclniD

HagOBSlumSodluBPotassluBManganeseSilverTotal SoUdaCond. umhos. 25*

April Way Jupa^ Julj^^ Aui^ Sept]^ Oct. liov. Dec,

-

MATEP QUALTTY SDHHAP.T - AVERAGE WONTHLT IN P.P.M.

Statloni Potholes East Canal above Scootcnary Dike Number: 3g Deaignatlonl C-(PEC)-6yg

Period of Sunrnaryi 1?5U

—irrTT.

Avg, Flow x 103

NOa Sample CompositesWat^r Temp. "F

Diss, Oxygen% D. 0. Satur.Carbon Dioxide

Anmonla NH^Total Alk. CaCOj

BCO3"CO3"

Total Hart. CaCOjCarb. Hard. CaCOlNon-Carb. Hard.

Sulfates SOlj"

ColorTm-bldltyTotal IronCopperZlnoLeadAlumlmoBCalciumHagneslunSodiumPotassiTimManganeseSilverTotal SolidsCond. umiios. 25°

April May June July Aug. Sept. Oct.

0.231

WATER QUALITY SUMMARY - AVEHAGE MONTHLY IN P. P.M.

Station:

Portod of

Crub Cr>,k at Beverlj, Numberi _Jl_ Deslcnatlon. CCt-UU

C.F.S.Avg. Flow X 10^No. Sample Conpoait«sWater Temp, °TDl8a« Oxygent D. 0. Satur,Carbon Dioxide

Ammonia NB^Total Alk. CaCOj

HCO3-CO3-

Totil Hard, CaCOjCart). Hard. CaCOjSon-CBTb. Hard.Sulfates SO],"

ColorTurbidityTot«l IronCopperZintLead

AluminumCalcluaNsgnasiuaSodlisB

Potaaaltfla

ManganeaeSilverTotal SolidsCond, unhoa. iS"

Jan.

Sumiaryi

Feb. M

l?51;-iy?5-lji?6

AprtP Ha?^3 Juij'='<'3jul».?<'3t;^,l.g433e^,2&3,

1 - WSIi2 -19553-1956

0.03J1

51.110.796

0.08.5

0.03312

29li

18no»o

33liS

1.7

O.liO

0.0000.0000.0000.100301.5

100

12o50.000

0.000601790

JiaiJfl Deci-

0.0501

73.010.1lU0.08.6

0.15360

325

3519li

1911

IM35

ITS

9011

llflO

0.032

72.27.6

890.08.2

0.13327

258

69205205

9129

ISO0.1500.0000.0000.0000.010310.10

12016.60.000

0.0007li9

853

0.0283

67.79.1

990.08.6

0.22352

3U36

218216

1116

932110.080.002

7

738,

102

0.

8.

0,

297263

31.

193

193

m1.3

166

,029

0.02521.

7.268.527.5

769

933675815

0.031 0.0367 8

73.

lOlt

I

306271

35190190

12636

2190.

0.

0,

0,

0,

1.0

5.

10525.

0.

0.

831

BliS

.36,000,000

,000

,lil0

67.79.1.

102

0.06.60.10

300261.

36181,

181.

10031.

li.6

0.130.0010.0000.0000.002

1.2

1.9102

13.00.000

0.00061.0

861

0.0512

57.311.1

1070,08.8T

29b251

U3189189

172UO60o.ou0.000

2

1.2

11,

91.

0,

8,

T

337307

30205

205

87

30

510,

.01,5

0.0026310.0

126

6.9

636937

0,

0,

190,

102

13.

0.

0.

631953

.06

,002

,000

,000

,000

0.0251

32,211..5

990.08.50,00

362

32U38

21.0

21.0

110IS

350,

0.30,000

0.0000,0000.070

310.8

1358.5

' 0.000

) 0.0006?0

1051.

StatloDi Columbia River at Vantajê Number. 38 Dealgnatloni C - 1.21

Period

IBTEP QmUTT SDMMAPT . AVERAGE HOOTHLY IN P.P.H.

C.f.S.Are. flow X ICPNo. Sample Cfr«posit«8

Water Temp, *V

Diss. Ojygen

f D. 0^ Satur.Carbon Dioxide

P«Amonla VE-t

Total Alk, CbCOjHCO3-003-

Total Hard. CaCOjCarb- Hard. CaCOjHon-Carb. Hard.Sulfates SOj,"

ColorTurbidityTotal IronCopperZlwI/!ad

AluminumCalclunr

MagnsslunSodiumFotassluBManganesoSilverTotal SolidsCond, unhos. 25**

Statloni Vest Canal below Qulnoy Hijnbori J2_ Doslgnatloni C-(WC)-680

Period of Sunmaryi 1?SU-1955

Jan. Feb. Mar. April Hay^ Jun.^^ July*^ A^w}'-^ Sopt}^ Oct. Jal D«c.

-

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